If you are like every other summertime picnic goer and Frisbee champion, you have felt the sting and itch of a mosquito or tick bite. Ticks and mosquitos thrive in the summer months in New York and New England. Exposure to them can present a risk of infection or disease such as West Nile and Lyme Disease.
Ticks and mosquitoes carry disease.
Diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes have created a health problem in many areas of the United States. An article published on WebMD on May 1, 2019 quoting the CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, MD, said “the growing public health problem will only worsen without “major improvement” in how local, state, and federal levels work together to track, report, and control the diseases.”
“Zika, West Nile, Lyme, and chikungunya — a growing list of diseases caused by the bite of an infected mosquito, tick, or flea — have confronted the U.S. in recent years, making a lot of people sick. And we don’t know what will threaten Americans next,” Redfield said.
Ticks, which transmit most of the diseases spread by organisms, are gaining ground in the United States. Ticks transmit Lyme infection and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which appear to be on the rise, along with newer and deadlier infections, including Heartland and Bourbon viruses. The CDC has identified seven new germs transmitted by ticks.
Mosquitoes are a growing threat, too, causing periodic epidemics of dengue, chikungunya, West Nile, and Zika. These diseases are spread as mosquitoes expand into new territory and are brought home by travelers. Unlike tick-borne diseases, which are not infectious, mosquito-borne diseases are.”
You can protect yourself from mosquitoes and ticks.
According to the CDC, the U.S. has experienced a steady increase of tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases. While elimination is not a possibility, people can protect themselves from bites:
- Use an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Treat items, such as boots, pants, socks, and tents, with permethrin or use permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
- Take steps to control ticks and fleas on pets.
- Find and remove ticks daily from family and pets.
- Take steps to control mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas inside and outside your home.
Avoidance is not always possible, but it is always better to err on the side of caution.
Things to do to eliminate ticks and mosquitoes from infesting your home.
Keep it clean– plain and simple. Mosquitoes love water and damp dark areas of debris. Mosquitoes can survive and breed in as little as a teaspoon of water.
- Remove standing, stagnant water wherever possible.
- Do not leave yard waste or dead foliage rotting in your yard and around your home.
- Check to ensure your screens are in good condition and there are not entry points near windows or doors.
- Remove old junk and properly dispose of trash and garbage.
- Display plants that repel mosquitoes: eucalyptus, mint, lavender, and marigolds!
Ticks are very industrious and patient. They thrive in and around your home quite inconspicuously. They are not taking up residence in the middle of a sun exposed lawn. Ticks can be found:
- In wooded areas, state parks, and hiking trails
- On or around heavily weeded and tall grassy areas
- In our yards around unraked leaves, unkept beds, and bushes
- In deep grass- keep your lawn and bushes trimmed
- On host animals such as deer, squirrels, and mice
- In garbage, discarded food, and birdseed. Keep your trash and yard clean.
Treatment is available to keep your outdoor living are safe for your family and pets.
When dealing with pesticides, always trust a professional. We offer green and organic products for ticks and mosquitoes upon request. Our technicians at Accurate Pest Control offer the following methods for tick management and removal:
- Granular applications: The most common method is an application of granular treatment to the lawn and surrounding brush.
- Fogging applications: Fogging applications to the brush perimeter is highly effective.
- One time/weekly service. We offer one-time services before a big event. This can include both tick and mosquito services. We offer one-time fogging service to help reduce the population before an event. We can also install dunks into bodies of water if applicable. Our technicians will review safe treatment options with you.
We recommend at minimum, a monthly treatment plan from May-September. We provide fogging services for your yard, brush perimeter, and/or dense landscaping. It is recommended to perform this service in regular intervals throughout the summer months. Treatments on a consistent and regular basis are critical for success. Prices will be determined upon inspection.
We are here to protect you, your family, and your pets. If you are unsure if you have a tick infestation, just give us a quick call and we can take a look and discuss treatment options with you, if necessary.
Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0501-vs-vector-borne.html
