FLEAS TICKS AND MOSQUITOS
Fleas
What is a Cat Flea?
Cat fleas are one of the most profuse and prevalent fleas found in the world. As the name suggests, the ‘cat flea’s’ primary host is the domestic cat but they can also live on other pets and animals that visit the city, such as dogs, opossums, foxes and even rats. They are also found indoors in narrow cracks where these animals frequently visit, or outdoors in humid climates. Their larvae live in the same kinds of places, especially where there is high moisture
Cat flea adults are about 1/8 inch (2.5 mm) long with a body that is flattened from side to side and has no wings. Brownish black to black in color but reddish black when full of blood, ‘cat fleas’ have chewing mouthparts and feed on organic debris, as well as dried adult flea fecal blood. After each blood meal, a female cat flea lays 4-8 eggs among a host animal’s hairs or in its bedding area, amounting to 400-500 during her life. Eggs are tiny white ovals, about 1/64 in (.5 mm) long, which take 1-12 days to hatch.
They may fall or be shaken off into crevices where the animal sleeps or spends time. Larvae need a high relative humidity (45-95%), going through 3 instar stages in 1-2 weeks to several months. Cocoons (pupae) with camouflaging debris on the surface last 4-14 days, up to a year. The pre-emerged adult stays in the cocoon for up to 20 weeks, protected from dangers such as pesticides. Adult fleas look for a blood meal soon after emerging but can survive for several months on stored fat. Once on a host, they feed, mate and lay eggs. Many adults live only a few days, as cat grooming removes up to half of them, but survivors can live about one year.
- Treatment to all floor surfaces of your home, sofa/chair cushions, basements, and crawl spaces.
- All treatments use (IGR) insect growth regulators & adulticides.
Ticks
Ticks are small external parasites that live off the blood of people, mammals, birds, and occasionally reptiles and amphibians. They are found in tall grass and shrubs where they will wait to attach to a passing host. Physical contact is the only method of transportation for ticks. Ticks don't jump or fly, although they may fall onto a host. Ticks have harpoon shaped mouth parts, which allows them to anchor themselves firmly in place while feeding. There are many species of ticks in Ohio. Most seen are dog ticks, Blacklegged ticks, and Lone star ticks.
Crushing or irritating the tick using heat or chemicals should be avoided, because these methods may cause it to regurgitate its stomach contents into the skin, increasing the possibility of infection.
Lyme disease found in deer ticks cannot be transmitted once the body is removed even if the mouthparts break off and are still in the skin. Prompt removal is important; infection generally takes an extended period of time - over 24 hours for Lyme disease alone. An effective extraction method involves carving the end of a small stick into a flat blade resembling a screwdriver, but with a small notch in the end. This tool is especially useful for removing ticks from dogs.
It is commonly claimed that petroleum jelly placed on the tick will clog the animal's breathing passages and cause it to detach itself. Many medical authorities advise against this and other smothering approaches as ticks only breathe a few times per hour and may continue to feed for some time. Smothering tactics may irritate the tick to the point of regurgitation and may cause otherwise avoidable infection. If ticks return within 3 months so will Absolute Pest Control at no charge.
Treatment
It is just as important to treat your lawn to prevent ticks as it is to mow and maintain a green and healthy lawn. Pets can easily bring ticks into your home. After feeding, ticks will drop off and lay eggs in protected cracks and crevices. Getting rid of an indoor tick infestation takes time because eggs can hatch months later, long after you think you have the situation under control.
Service begins with a licensed technician providing a full inspection of your property. During the inspection, your tick control technician will identify potential problem areas around your home or office. After the source of your problem areas has been identified, your technician will create a customized tick treatment plan, using the most effective and environmentally-conscious tick control solutions.
Mosquitoes
- Identify mosquito breeding sites.
- Treatment of breeding sites using a larvicide when necessary.
- Rapid reduction of the adult population around the home, yard, and shrubs monthly to reduce population.
- We pretreat for parties and outdoor receptions.
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Discount for Senior or Veteran
(new customers only).
Applicable to one-time treatments only. Excludes rodent exclusions.Â
