Biting Insects 101: Overview of Pests That Bite
Biting insects like mosquitoes, fleas and ticks are most active during the warm months. Pests like bed bugs are active year round and become a large concern with the increase of summer travel. Mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks bite to get their next blood meal not out of self-defense. Some biting insects can cause itchy welts on the skin and others can pose a more serious health threat.
Mosquitoes
Best known summer pests because of their pesky nature. There are 170 different mosquitoes in North America alone. They can be brown, gray, black with white, silver, green, or iridescent blue scales.
They need water to breed, so often are found near water like ponds, bird baths, and marshes. They bite humans and leave red, itchy bumps on the skin. They carry diseases like West Nile Virus, Easter Equine Encephalitis, and Dengue Fever. Mosquitoes also have contributed to the spread of yellow fever, malaria, and Chikungunya Virus.
To eliminate mosquito breeding areas on your property start by draining standing water from flowerpots, birdbaths, grill covers, wading pools, and other water sources.
A unique fact is that only female mosquitoes bite and feed on humans. They hunt their blood meal by detecting body heat and the carbon dioxide we exhale.
Fleas
Fleas are a parasite that feeds on the blood of any warm-blooded host. The most common flea is the cat flea which mostly feasts on cats, dogs, and humans. Most fleas are dark and reddish-brown in color and range in size from 1/12 to 1/6 inches long. Phoenix Pest Control Arizona
Fleas transport themselves on pets, rodents, and wild animals like raccoons and skunks. An adult fleas can remain on their hosts at all times but this isn’t true for all species.
Fleas bite their hosts and result in a painful, itchy red bump. Their saliva can also cause a serious flea allergy dermatitis in pets. Fleas also have been implicated in the spread of diseases like the rare bubonic plague, bacterial disease murine typhus and are an intermediate host for tapeworms.
Protect family pets by using flea management which includes bathing and grooming them often, visit the vet every year and also using flea treatment during the warm months. Phoenix Pest Control Arizona
Contact Lady Bug Pest Control Specialists. We offer Free Home Inspection for Termites, Eco-Friendly Pest Control, Home Seal Service, Bed Bug Eco-Heat, and Rodent Control. We perform Complete Home Inspections. Lady Bug also will do a free termite inspection if you already are under contract with another company and take over your existing termite warranty policy. Please feel free to contact Lady Bug Pest Control Specialists to answer any of your pest control questions or for a FREE Inspection. 480-833-1111.
