Biting Insects Control

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a - Ticks

4 things to know about ticks this year and how to protect yourself:

1. Ticks Ticks are active most of the year but particularly so after rain and periods of high humidity.

Ticks are troublesome throughout the year and most troublesome during the warmer months, between October and January. Tick related allergy or infection transmission to humans and pets are more likely to occur from bites of nymph and adult ticks

A single tick will progress through four stages of development in its lifetime: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. The nymph tick is most active in the spring through the summer months, and it’s about the size of a poppy seed.

And they don’t pack less of a punch because of their size. Nymph ticks are actually the most likely to transmit Lyme disease or another tick-borne infection to humans than ticks at other stages, according to the CDCTrusted Source.

Less than two millimeters in size, nymphs can bite people and pets and remain virtually undetected. They also burrow into your or your pet’s skin.

Although adult ticks may also transmit Lyme disease, they’re much larger, so you’re more likely to see them and promptly remove them.

How to check for ticks

Inspect yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks whenever you’ve been outdoors. Be sure to check the hidden spots and crevices of the body like the scalp, along the hairline, under the armpits, in the belly button, etc.

2. A tick bite doesn’t feel like a mosquito bite

Many people think they’ll be able to feel when a tick bites them, just like they feel a mosquito bite.

But ticks are sneaky little bloodsuckers, and they’ve evolved with some sophisticated, almost science fiction-like mechanisms.

Their saliva contains natural anesthetic and immune suppressors to ensure that you don’t feel anything at all when they jab you to feed, reports the Internal Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS).

If you live in an area prone to ticks such as the Northern Beaches of NSW, the less access the ticks have to your skin, the better. Wear light-colored clothing and tuck your long-sleeved shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks.

And remember to have a professional treatment carried out by a licenced and trained expert if you have ticks on your property.

Do not risk it.

Contact the expert at Sprayed Pest Control for an obligation free assessment.

Protect your skin and clothing

When outdoors, the CDCTrusted Source recommends using a tick repellent that contains at least 20 percent DEET or picaridin on your skin. Treat your clothing by spraying on a product with at least 0.5 percent permethrin.

3. It’s unclear how long ticks must be attached to you to transmit infections

Should you happen to quickly find a tick embedded in your skin, don’t assume you have no chance of contracting Lyme disease or another tick-borne infection.

The CDC states that a tick must be attached to a host for 24-48 hours to transmit Lyme disease. But a 2015 reviewTrusted Source stated that the minimum attachment time for transmission of an infection has never been established.

That study also brought to light six documented cases of Lyme disease that had been transmitted in less than 6 hours. Plus, the other diseases that ticks carry — such as babesiosis and bartonellosis — may occur within minutes after a tick has latched onto your skin.

Do not risk it.

Contact the expert at Sprayed Pest Control for an obligation free assessment.

4. If you’ve been bitten by an infected tick, you may not develop a rash

Following a tick bite, many people wait and see if they develop a bulls-eye rash. If not, they may wrongfully assume they’re in the clear.

In reality, less than 50 percent of people infected with Lyme disease have a memory of any rash. Other symptoms, like fatigue and aches, occur in many common illnesses. That can make obtaining an accurate diagnosis challenging.

Do not risk it.

Contact the expert at Sprayed Pest Control for an obligation free assessment.

B - Fleas

Fleas are some of the most annoying pests to deal with. They’re small enough to get around easily an

Fleas generally prefer four-legged hosts to humans. However, if your family pet has fleas, it’s likely that YOU, your yard, your house, and furniture will be targeted next.

Itching is a telltale sign of a flea infestation. You may even spot the little jumpers. On average, fleas are 2.5 millimeters long, making them visible to the naked eye. Their strong legs allow them to jump as far as 13 inches in distance.

The life cycle of the flea depends on environmental conditions. Fleas flourish in warm climates. The ideal temperature range is 26°C to 32°C with 70 percent humidity.

In these conditions, fleas have a life cycle of 18 to 21 days. If the weather isn’t ideal and there isn’t a host to feed on, flea larvae may remain dormant for months while waiting for better

conditions to develop. On average, adult fleas live from several weeks to several months.

How to get rid of fleas in your home

If your pet is a walking carrier of mature fleas, your home can become the nursery. It’s estimated that only 5 percent of a flea infestation can be attributed to the adult fleas unwillingly hosted by your pet.

The remaining 95 percent is thought be the eggs, larvae, and cocoons spread throughout your house. This means that you have to tackle the problem from all angles in order to truly eradicate the infestation.

To do this, you must treat your pet and its living environment at the same time. Depending on your pet’s boundaries, this may include your whole house or yard.

Here’s how to start eliminating fleas from your home:

1. Call Sprayed Pest Control for help. We will choose an insecticide that contains both an adulticide, such as permethrin, that kills adult fleas, and an insect growth regulator, such as methoprene or pyriproxyfen, that kills the eggs, larvae, and pupae.

2. Use a powerful vacuum on any floors, upholstery, and mattresses. Cracks and other tight spaces are usually good hiding places for fleas and their cohort of eggs, larvae, and cocoons. If you can, use a vacuum with a bag you can dispose of without coming into contact with its contents.

3. Employ a steam cleaner for carpets and upholstery, including pet beds. The combination of high heat and soap is the enemy of fleas in all stages of life. Pay special attention to any hot spots where your pet usually lies down.

4. Wash all bedding, including your pet’s, in hot water. Dry it at the highest heat setting. If the infestation is severe, consider getting rid of old bedding and starting anew.

How to get rid of fleas in your yard

The best way to eliminate fleas from your yard is to think about where they’d most like to hide. Take a good look at your yard and make a list of the places that are shady, humid, and warm. Sun-exposed areas can get too hot, so you probably won’t find too many fleas there.

Spot problem areas by observing where your pet likes to lie down. These typically become preferred hanging spots for fleas.

Once you have your target zones, here’s what you can do to eliminate the fleas:

2. Mow your lawn regularly and rake the exposed surfaces thoroughly. Fleas like to hide in tall grass. Make sure to bag the contents rather than add them to your compost pile.

3. Remove all debris, such as dead leaves and twigs, from flower beds and from under any bushes. Expose as much of the shady areas to sunlight as you can.

4. Spread cedar chips on the areas where your pet likes to lie down, under the bushes, and on flower beds.

5. Ask your gardening center about nematodes, which are small worms that can eat parasite eggs, and sulphur granules. You can spread both around problem areas to help remove fleas.

How to get rid of your pet’s fleas

If you suspect that your pet has fleas, take the following steps:

1. Talk to your vet about oral or topical flea remedies.

2. Call Sprayed Pest Control for help. We will choose an insecticide that contains both an adulticide, such as permethrin, that kills adult fleas, and an insect growth regulator, such as methoprene or pyriproxyfen, that kills the eggs, larvae, and pupae.

3. Wash your pet’s bedding in hot water every couple of days. Dry it on the highest heat setting after each washing. You can take the pet bed to a dry cleaner, but make sure the potential cleaning chemicals are pet friendly.

4. Wash your pet using flea shampoo. Ask your vet or natural food store about the best options for your pet. Many effective pet shampoos contain pyrethrin, an extract derived from chrysanthemum flowers.

5. Purchase a flea comb. Have a bowl of soapy water handy to dunk the critters once you comb them out of your pet’s hair.

Why you need to get rid of fleas quickly

Beyond being a nuisance, fleas can also spread diseases and parasites. Some of the most dangerous diseases areTrusted Source flea-borne typhus and bubonic plague.

If a flea infection goes undetected, your pet may develop a heartworm or tapeworm. Tapeworm may occasionally infest people as well.

The bottom line

Detecting a flea infestation can be upsetting, but take heart. They can be quickly eradicated.

Call Sprayed Pest Control for help. We will choose an insecticide that contains both an adulticide, such as permethrin, that kills adult fleas, and an insect growth regulator, such as methoprene or pyriproxyfen, that kills the eggs, larvae, and pupae.

if you take the appropriate measures. Vacuum every few days. Clean up your lawns regularly, and dispose of any debris as soon as possible.

Make sure you launder all linens and other cloth items regularly and at high heat.

The most important thing to remember is that you must treat your home, yard, and pet at the same time. This can help prevent re-infestation.

Call Sprayed Pest Control for help

C - WASPS

What wasps are threats?

Beware, many wasps are threats. The yellow jackets, paper wasps, bald-faced hornets, and European hornets are just a few. Of the different types of wasps, the above tend to be the most aggressive and most dangerous. They are often prone to sting repeatedly, and their nests may house hundreds and even thousands of wasps that can respond quickly to a perceived threat. You may be more likely to come into contact with paper wasp nests in areas like patios, decks, or under eaves.

Who is most at risk from stings?

Those with allergies are most clearly at risk, but they’re not alone. A big enough or aggressive enough swarm can endanger the life of a healthy adult. The elderly, children, and pets are at especially high risk if a nearby nest is disturbed.

Can I try wasp nest removal on my own?

This is typically a bad idea.

Wasp removal can be dangerous.

Improper wasp nest removal can result in dozens or even hundreds of stings to you, your pets, and others nearby.

Call Sprayed Pest Control for help

Professional wasp nest removal is safe.

Entrust wasp control to a professional pest control service like Sprayed Pest Control. It’s far safer for you, your family, your pests, and those nearby this way.

Even if you think you can run away fast enough, you may be underestimating wasps’ aggressiveness, and others may not be able to get away like you can.

Call Sprayed Pest Control for help