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Flea & Tick Identification

What are fleas & ticks?

Fleas and ticks are small parasitic insects that thrive in warm, humid weather, breed quickly, and are well-known for taking over our outdoor areas and sometimes our indoor spaces. Though both feed on blood as their sole source of nutrition, they are two very different pests. A brief description of each is below.

Fleas are tiny insects. They survive because their body is flattened from side to side and covered in a hard shell, making them difficult to squish. Their large back legs help them to quickly jump out of the way of danger or onto a host that they want to use as a food source. 

There are two species of fleas living in our area, the dog flea and the cat flea. Dog ticks are the most widespread and the fleas that most people and animals come into contact with.

Ticks are not insects; they are arachnids and related to spiders and mites. They cannot fly or jump, so in order to find a host, the hungry tick will crawl to the top of the grass, weeds, or other vegetation and wait for a host to pass by that they can crawl on. 

The most common species of ticks living in our area are the American dog tick and the blacklegged tick.

No matter the descriptive name of the flea or tick, they all feed on a wide variety of hosts. Some of their favorite hosts are cats, dogs, rodents, and wild animals like raccoons, skunks, and deer. People are not the flea’s preferred hosts but will feed on our blood if given the opportunity.

Are fleas & ticks dangerous?

Fleas and ticks are both concerning pests that can cause health problems for people. 

Depending on the species, ticks spread diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, anaplasmosis, and Lyme disease to people and animals. While not every tick carries a disease, many do, which is why avoiding them as much as possible is so important. 

Fleas also spread some diseases but are more problematic because they can transmit parasitic tapeworms to people and animals. Also, many people and animals are allergic to their saliva. Being bitten by fleas results in a red, itchy rash that can lead to a secondary infection because of excessive scratching. 

Having your home infested with fleas is also hard mentally and can make you very uncomfortable and anxious.

Why do I have a flea & tick problem?

Wild animals and our pets are common hosts for fleas and ticks and are often heavily infested with them. 

As animals move around, fleas and ticks will drop off their current hosts and infest new areas. You don’t have to own pets to have problems with these parasitic pests. Any property could become infested with fleas and ticks after animals introduce them to your property.

After finding their way into your yard, they will find a way into your home on you, your kids, or your pets. Fleas move from structure to structure on things like rugs and upholstered furniture already infested with adults or their eggs. Rodents or other unwanted wild animal visitors can also carry fleas and ticks indoors.

Where will I find fleas & ticks?

People regularly come in contact with ticks in fields, fence lines, along wooded trails, and in our own yards in areas of tall grass or around leaf or brush piles. Most ticks can’t complete their life cycle indoors, making them problematic outside in our yards. 

Fleas are pests that can thrive both inside homes and businesses and outside in our yards. Outside, their eggs develop in areas with plenty of shade and moisture. Popular hangouts for fleas, and where people and pets often come into contact with these pests, include our yards, fields, parks, and sandy beaches surrounding lakes.

Inside our homes, fleas gather in places like bedding, upholstered furniture, under rugs, and behind baseboards.

How do I get rid of fleas & ticks?

To eliminate the fleas and ticks that have taken over your yard or home, reach out to Advanced Pest Control. We are a family owned and operated business dedicated to our customers and providing the services necessary to help them protect their homes and families from our area’s most problematic pests. 

We understand how frustrating these tiny pests can be, and we provide advanced treatments that will produce advanced results! At first sight of fleas or ticks around your Hot Springs yard or home, contact the pest control experts at Advanced Pest Control today!

How can I prevent fleas & ticks in the future?

At Advanced Pest Control, we have put together a list of helpful pest control tips to assist you in making your property a place that fleas and ticks won’t thrive in.

  • Rodents are often covered in fleas and ticks. Make your property less attractive to rodents by keeping lids on trash cans, removing bird feeders, and maintaining gardens. 
  • Seal openings in your home’s exterior that will allow rodents to move into your home.
  • Remove grass, wood, and leaf piles from your property where fleas and ticks like to hide.
  • Keep your grass cut short. 
  • Avoid walking through areas of tall grass.
  • Cut shrubs and bushes away from your home’s exterior to help keep the soil around your foundation dry and less attractive to fleas and ticks.
  • Regularly vacuum your floors and upholstered furniture to help rid your house of stray fleas or ticks.
  • If you own pets, regularly wash their bedding and your own if they sleep in your bed. 
  • Place pets on a year-round flea and tick preventative under the guidance of their veterinarian.

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