What are fleas and ticks?
Fleas and ticks are two pests you have likely heard of through secondhand accounts, if not by your own experience, meaning they are pretty common pests in Houston homes. Fleas and ticks are very different pests, with fleas being insects and ticks being arachnids. However, people often group them because they are both external parasites that require hosts to survive.
Ticks have oval-shaped bodies that are flat but become swollen after taking a blood meal. In contrast, fleas are tiny, only about 1/12 to 1/6 of an inch long, so they usually look like little specks without magnification. Neither fleas nor ticks have wings nor can fly.
Are fleas and ticks dangerous?
Fleas and ticks are both disease vectors. They can pick up diseases from an infected host and transmit them to another host. Diseases spread by ticks include anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia. Fleas can cause cat-scratch fever, heartworm, plague, tularemia, and typhus.
Why do I have a flea and tick problem?
Although pets like cats and dogs are frequently associated with fleas and ticks can occur on properties without pets. There are a few ways fleas and ticks become a problem besides pets, including secondhand furniture and wildlife, birds, or rodent infestations.
When the pests above get into yards or homes, they can carry these parasitic pests, dropping ticks, fleas, and flea eggs in places where other animals or people can accidentally pick them up.
Where will I find fleas and ticks?
If you have pets, you will likely find fleas and ticks near their beds, sleeping areas, or where they spend most of their time. When outside and not on a host, both fleas and ticks like tall grass and foliage.
How do I get rid of fleas and ticks?
Get rid of fleas and ticks with the assistance of The Bugstoppers. Every pest problem requires a unique solution, so we take the time to understand your situation and then create a plan of action using appropriate treatments for those pests. Our flea and tick services have a 60-day guarantee after our second treatment application, so you'll be covered if these pests come back.
Our highly trained and skilled Houston pest technicians get the job done right the first time, so don't wait to call The Bugstoppers and get residential or commercial flea and tick control for your property.
How can I prevent fleas and ticks in the future?
When it comes to fleas and ticks, all pets in your home should be on a preventative from a veterinarian, but flea and tick prevention should extend to your home and yard as well. You can use these tips to keep fleas and ticks from infesting:
- Declutter and clean your home regularly to keep flea infestations from taking hold.
- Install or repair fencing to prevent wildlife from getting into your yard.
- Discourage birds, rodents, and wildlife from your yard by removing food sources like bird feeders and garbage cans without lids and securing gardens.
- Inspect the exterior of your home for places where wildlife, birds, and rodents can get inside, properly sealing any of these entry points.
- Keep your yard maintained by mowing and trimming bushes and shrubs regularly.
For the home pest control treatments and services that will eliminate flea and tick problems in your home and yard, call The Bugstoppers.