Pest Control Service
As spring and summer approach, it is important to remember that ticks are an important source of disease and illness. There are certain precautions to take when dealing with this seasonal nuisance. PestMax is here to help you identify and protect yourself against ticks.
How to Avoid Common Tick-Borne Diseases
In order to prevent tick bites, there are some precautionary measures that need to be taken.
- Always use repellent containing at least 20-30% DEET
- Safeguard your pets by asking the local vet about safe repellents
- Stay clear of grasses and bushes by walking in the middle of a path or hiking trail
- Keep the grasses and shrubs trimmed in your yard’s landscaping
- Always shower after spending time in a habitat that may be home to ticks
- Thoroughly check yourself and those with you after walking or hiking in wooded or grassy areas
Identification of Ticks Found in Florida & Symptoms of Tick Bites
Ticks do not fly or jump like many other pests. They are slow and deliberate in their crawling around. Ticks can sense even just trace amounts of gases such as the carbon dioxide left by warm-blooded mammals including humans. Ticks can sense our presence from a long distance away and even select their ambush site by identifying well traveled paths. Symptoms of tick-borne diseases usually appear two weeks after a bite. Aside from the infamous bullseye rash common symptoms include fever, chills, headaches and muscle pains. There are many tick species commonly found in Florida. If you or a loved one is bitten by a tick, it helps to identify the species to determine potential diseases so the best treatment may be administered.
Brown Dog Tick Control
The Brown Dog Tick is unique because it is one of the only ticks that can survive indoors. It is often found in kennels and feeds primarily on dogs. This tick is easy to spot being reddish brown in color, with an elongated body. It has hexagonal mouth parts, which can be a good identifying characteristic as well. In all stages of life this tick prefers dogs and is prevalent in a wide range of conditions because it can survive inside.
Lone Star Tick Diseases
The Lone Star Tick is a brown tick with a single white spot in its back. It is a medium sized tick with a very round body and long mouthparts. The threat of the Lone Star Tick peaks in July and as an adult tends to feed on larger mammals such as cattle and deer. Humans are also a common host to this tick. This tick is associated with the following diseases: Ehrilichiosis, Anaplasmosis, STARI.
American Dog Tick Identification
This tick is a very common tick. The American Dog Tick is brown and has short, pointed mouth parts. This tick feeds on a large variety of mammals and is a threat to humans as well. It is most prevalent in the months between March and September. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is the disease that the American Dog Tick carries.
Gulf Coast Tick Bites
The Gulf Coast Tick has an oval shaped body and is a light golden brown color. It has a distinct white mark on its back up towards its mouth parts. This ticks feeds on a large variety of mammals including humans. It is usually found around the ears of its host. The Gulf Coast Tick is found from March to November. It is a carrier of the Rickettsia Parkeri Disease.
Small Size Black-Legged Tick or Deer Tick
This is the most common tick found in the United States. The Black-Legged or Deer Tick is a very small tick that is only about the size of a poppy seed as an adult. It has long thin mouth parts and is red with a black dorsal shield. It preys on larger animals including cattle and humans. It is the carrier of Lyme Disease and Babesiosis.
Tick Pest Inspections, Prevention, Control & Removal in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero and Naples, Florida
Make sure you and your family are safe from these disease-ridden pests. PestMax can help you safeguard your home from ticks today.
Displaying /.