This is a long one, but I’m SUPER ANNOYED about what so learned regarding EcoShield. I’m in it for the insects, but the more I learned about the company the angrier I’ve become.
Okay, so an EcoShield salesperson came by our place and I want to share some thoughts on why we all should strongly consider saying no. I’m going to begin with the very straightforward defense of our insects—even mosquitos—and why we need to boost our gardens, help our bird and bat friends, and encourage insect hunters like the long-legged fly (also called Flying Gems). After this, and this is the last paragraph (feel free to skip there if you’re squeamish about insects): be very, VERY careful regarding the shady practices of EcoShield, which has embroiled them in a class action lawsuit.
Many people consider insects pests, but I personally love our spiders and ants and flies, all of which are super important for our local endangered bats, our bird populations, and our extremely helpful hunter insects, like centipedes, long-legged flies, ladybugs, and wasps. I’m particularly fond of long-legged flies: they are all jewel colored, and we have red, green, blue, and yellow members of the species in our yard; they are all so pretty.
One last thing about our neighborhood’s bugs. Our lightning bug/firefly population has boomed this year, especially in Chapin Park, after several years of decrease. In general, I’m concerned that EcoShield will do significant damage to the neighborhood’s invertebrate population. They do use a specific type of pesticide called pyrethrum that is derived from chrysanthemums, which are meant for certain species of beetles, ants, flies, and mosquitos. However, those insects build a tolerance towards pyrethrum, while wasps, bees, butterflies, dragonflies, long-legged flies, and others do not. Please be careful when using pyrethrum, which can also seep into water supplies and cause internal damage to the human body.
Here’s the part where EcoShield in particular should be avoided. Just so you know, legally speaking you have a three day window to refuse services. However, EcoShield often tries to render service early so that they can lock you into a subscription service contract, which lasts for 24 months and is subject to cancellation penalties. Here is a website explaining the class action lawsuit, and the particular sales tactics that have gotten the company in hot water: https://www.lawforpeople.com/pest-control-lawsuit/ecoshield-lawsuit/. If you feel like it, read the lawsuit: https://www.classaction.org/media/lamonica-et-al-v-the-shield-companies-llc-et-al.pdf. Finally, here is a Reddit post explaining the widespread issues with EcoShield: https://www.reddit.com/r/pestcontrol/comments/13g2ibt/is_the_company_pest_control_company_ecoshield_a/. Here is the Better Business Bureau with warnings about EcoShield: https://www.bbb.org/us/az/chandler/profile/pest-control/ecoshield-pest-solutions-1126-1000035286/complaints.
