The Bug Dude will take care of your pest problems with professional pest control in Fort Worth, TX. Vector borne diseases are a growing problem, and among these ticks are a common cause of illness. Ticks are small arthropods that feed on blood. They belong to the class Arachnida, a class which also includes spiders, scorpions and mites. They are both parasites and vectors of numerous diseases. Examples of the diseases they can transmit include Lyme disease, bubonic plague, Q fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Meningoencephalitis, tularemia, rickettsia, tape worm and others. They feed on humans, pets and livestock. Ticks aren’t insects, because they have eight legs, where insects have six.
While there are numerous species of ticks, the two most common species found in Texas are the Brown Dog Tick and the Lone Star Tick. The American Dog Tick and the Deer Tick are encountered occasionally as well.
While ticks are commonly associated with wooded areas, they also live in brush and grassy fields. The larvae, nymphs and adults typically feed on mule deer, livestock and other wild mammals, as well as humans, birds, reptiles and even amphibians.
Ticks are typically found when you inspect for ticks, or when the tick’s body is already engorged with blood. Ticks will also crawl up to the head, where the hair makes it difficult to see. Tweezers are the approved tool by the CDC for removal.
Prevention and Pest Control
Take extra precautions against ticks when outdoors or when in contact with outdoor animals. Inspection is always required for ticks after being outdoors. In addition, use veterinarian approved protection for pets and livestock. The Bug Dude can help prevent the risk of ticks with professional pest control in Fort Worth, TX.
Common Ticks in Texas
Brown Dog Ticks
The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is small and brown in color. Dogs and other canines are the preferred hosts, but they will feed on humans. The brown dog tick usually feed only three times during their entire life. First when they are in the larval stage, next while they are nymphs, and finally when they become adults. They leave their host when they molt for each stage and again to mate after their adult feeding.
Brown dog ticks are a known to vector of ehrlichiosis in dogs and cats, and canine babesiosis in dogs. Furthermore, they’re also capable of transmitting rickettsial diseases in humans.
Lone Star Ticks
The Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, are common throughout Texas. The adults are tan to brown in color, with the adult females having a distinctive white “star” on their back. They will feed on humans during all three stages of their life. This tick can transmit Human Monocytic Ehrlichosis, Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness and Tularemia. Contact us today to schedule professional pest control in Fort Worth, TX.
Tick Control
The Bug Dude uses different methods of tick control when implementing pest control in Fort Worth, TX. Treatment will depend on the species, and the extent and location of an infestation. In addition, it isn’t uncommon for homes with a tick problem to also have nuisance animal problems, such as rodents or other animals. You may not even be aware of an animal problem, but if they are hosting ticks, addressing the animal issue will help to prevent ticks.
How to Remove a Tick
The proper removal of a tick reduces your chances of contracting a disease. However, not all ticks will be a carrier of disease. Furthermore, when illness does occur, modern medicine offers treatment. Use the following method for removing a tick burrowed into your skin.
The CDC recommends using tweezers to remove a tick. First, pull back any hair to reveal the tick and bite. Next, gently grasp the head of the tick as close to the skin as possible. Don’t grasp the ticks body to avoid injecting the ticks blood into the skin. Pull outward in a straight motion until the head clears the body. Don’t twist or squeeze overly hard to avoid the separation of the head from the body, leaving the head inside the skin.
Once the tick is removed, wash the area with soap and water. Use alcohol or iodine to also cleanse the area. The signs of a tick related illness can include a rash or fever in the weeks following a tick bite. Contact The Bug Dude today to schedule professional pest control in Fort Worth, TX. We will get rid of your pests and provide tips to assist in keeping them away.
Carefully inspect your home for cracks and crevices, and also poorly fitting screens and doors. Ticks and other pests can enter the home through these, so careful sealing and properly fitting screens and doors can prevent their entry in your home. Furthermore, mow the lawn frequently to discourage ticks. In addition, remove bird nests and other nesting wildlife when possible to discourage tick infestation. However, professional pest control in Fort Worth, TX along with these precautionary methods provides the best preventative.
Pest Prevention Tips
When the inspection is complete, the Bug Dude may recommend actions to make your environment less hospitable for ticks. For example, trimming trees to allow sunlight to filter through into shaded areas may help to reduce tick populations. Other tick deterring tricks include removing leaf litter, thick ground cover and removing piles of debris, trimming shrubs away from the home and stacking firewood up off the ground. Target the areas pets and family members use. A tidy, frequently mowed lawn and routine pest control in Fort Worth, TX provides the best tick prevention.
Treatment by the Pros
If a tick infestation is especially heavy, it may be necessary to treat your pets, home, the lawn, and wooded areas. The Bug Dude can provide the professional pest control in Fort Worth, TX that you need to get rid of ticks, and other pests. Professional pest control in Fort Worth, TX is the most effective means available for treating and preventing a tick infestation. We serve Fort Worth and the surrounding areas with professional pest control services.
