Bed Bugs - Bed bugs have become more common in our daily lives than most people think. The adult bed bug is about 1/5 inch long and is reddish brown to mahogany. Bed bugs usually hide in cracks and crevices during normal daylight hours. They will hide in the folds of a mattress, coils of the box spring, cracks and hollow bed posts, in upholstered chairs, behind loose wall paper, behind pictures on the wall, behind baseboards, light fixtures and the list can go on and on. For this reason, bed bugs have become the most difficult pest to treat in modern times; even more difficult than cockroaches, ants and termites. Bed bugs had been eradicated in the United States since the 1950’s. But, unfortunately, bed bugs have re-emerged because of international travel, the targeting of pests and treating that targeted pest and the lack of public awareness about prevention methods. Although bed bugs can dine on any warm-blooded animal, they primarily dine on humans. Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but their bites can become red, itchy welts.
Fleas - fleas prefer a non- human host to feed upon, but, many will feed upon human hosts when the infestations are heavy or when the non-human host is not readily
available. Fleas are wingless, small insects, ranging in size from 1/25 to 1/3 of an inch.
The flea’s body is narrow from side to side; thus allowing the flea to move readily between the hairs on an animal, and the nap of carpet. Adult fleas feed on blood, while their larvae feed on organic debris.Fleas are found on cats and dogs year round, but
are most common during warm and humid weather.
available. Fleas are wingless, small insects, ranging in size from 1/25 to 1/3 of an inch.
The flea’s body is narrow from side to side; thus allowing the flea to move readily between the hairs on an animal, and the nap of carpet. Adult fleas feed on blood, while their larvae feed on organic debris.Fleas are found on cats and dogs year round, but
are most common during warm and humid weather.
Ticks
Ticks are not an insect but an arthropod. Included in this class are spiders and mites.There are three stages of ticks: larva (six legs), nymph (eight legs), and adult (eight legs). All three stages of ticks require at least one blood meal per stage to grow.Ticks love to climb to the top of blades of grass called Questing, where they wait for an animal to pass so they can grab onto the animal’s fur.
Ticks are not an insect but an arthropod. Included in this class are spiders and mites.There are three stages of ticks: larva (six legs), nymph (eight legs), and adult (eight legs). All three stages of ticks require at least one blood meal per stage to grow.Ticks love to climb to the top of blades of grass called Questing, where they wait for an animal to pass so they can grab onto the animal’s fur.
The Blacklegged Tick (deer tick or Lyme tick) - a deer tick or Lyme tick is named for its dark legs; the body is pale in color. The blacklegged tick lives in grass and shrubs and primarily feeds on the white-tailed deer. Blacklegged ticks live for two years and have three feeding stages: larva, nymph, and adult. Ticks lay their eggs in the spring and come summer they hatch as larvae. The larvae will feed on mice and other small animals. Unfortunately, while the ticks are feeding on mice and small animals, the tick may ingest bacteria if one of these animals is infected. Once a tick becomes infected they carry the infection with them for the
rest of their life. When the tick feeds again, the bacteria are then transferred to the new host. Usually this new host is a small rodent, but sometimes it may be a human. Adult ticks often feed on deer; these animals do not become infected, but are important because they transport and help maintain the tick population.
rest of their life. When the tick feeds again, the bacteria are then transferred to the new host. Usually this new host is a small rodent, but sometimes it may be a human. Adult ticks often feed on deer; these animals do not become infected, but are important because they transport and help maintain the tick population.
The Brown Dog Tick - is unusual because it can complete its entire life cycle indoors!
Because of this, it can establish populations in colder climates. Although, many ticks are carried indoors on animals and humans, they cannot complete their entire life cycle
indoors. The brown dog tick will feed on a wide variety of mammals; dogs are the preferred host in the United States and appear to be required to develop large infestations.The tick is throughout the world, mainly in warmer areas. Dogs’ are their primary host but, occasionally they will be found on
wildlife. The brown dog tick is small, red-brown. If dogs are not present, they will feed on rodents, domestic animals but rarely humans. Larvae and nymphs will attach to a dog’s back whereas, adults usually attach on the ears and between the dog’s toes. The adult female will feed on the host for about a week, then drop offand climb upwards to find an isolated spot for her egg development. Cracks and crevices are ideal for egg laying. She will continuously lay her eggs for four days. Once the female is finished laying her eggs she dies. A female brown dog tick, fully nourished with blood can lay up to 3,000 eggs; the number of eggs laid depends on the size of the tick and the amount of blood she has ingested. Temperature and humidity play a role in the length of time each stage feeds, warmer temperatures promote faster growth. Ticks can live several months in each stage without feeding; adults can live 18 months without feeding.
Because of this, it can establish populations in colder climates. Although, many ticks are carried indoors on animals and humans, they cannot complete their entire life cycle
indoors. The brown dog tick will feed on a wide variety of mammals; dogs are the preferred host in the United States and appear to be required to develop large infestations.The tick is throughout the world, mainly in warmer areas. Dogs’ are their primary host but, occasionally they will be found on
wildlife. The brown dog tick is small, red-brown. If dogs are not present, they will feed on rodents, domestic animals but rarely humans. Larvae and nymphs will attach to a dog’s back whereas, adults usually attach on the ears and between the dog’s toes. The adult female will feed on the host for about a week, then drop offand climb upwards to find an isolated spot for her egg development. Cracks and crevices are ideal for egg laying. She will continuously lay her eggs for four days. Once the female is finished laying her eggs she dies. A female brown dog tick, fully nourished with blood can lay up to 3,000 eggs; the number of eggs laid depends on the size of the tick and the amount of blood she has ingested. Temperature and humidity play a role in the length of time each stage feeds, warmer temperatures promote faster growth. Ticks can live several months in each stage without feeding; adults can live 18 months without feeding.
The American Dog Tick - is a common tick found throughout the United States. The
American dog tick goes through an egg, larva,nymph, and adult stage during its development. They may be found throughout the year, adults are more active from late April through May.
All three stages of this tick must have a blood meal before they can develop to the
nest stage, (or in the case of the adult female, lay her eggs). American dog tick adults infest both large and medium size hosts such as dogs, cattle, deer, raccoons opossum. While
the immature stages may feed on the same hosts as the adults, they do prefer smaller hosts like mice, squirrels, and chipmunks. If given the opportunity, the American dog tick will feed on humans. The American dog tick is the primary
carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in many areas of the United States.
American dog tick goes through an egg, larva,nymph, and adult stage during its development. They may be found throughout the year, adults are more active from late April through May.
All three stages of this tick must have a blood meal before they can develop to the
nest stage, (or in the case of the adult female, lay her eggs). American dog tick adults infest both large and medium size hosts such as dogs, cattle, deer, raccoons opossum. While
the immature stages may feed on the same hosts as the adults, they do prefer smaller hosts like mice, squirrels, and chipmunks. If given the opportunity, the American dog tick will feed on humans. The American dog tick is the primary
carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in many areas of the United States.
The Mosquito - is one of the best know summer pests, they breed in stagnant water or soft soil and can develop from egg to adult in 10 to 14 days. The mosquito is pale brown with whitish stripes across its abdomen. It has six legs, and has a narrow oval shape. The mosquito ranges in size from ¼ to 3/8 inch. The mosquito flies and has an antennae, and can be found in 50 states. The importance of the mosquito is its ability to transmit West Nile encephalitis, which is a sometimes fatal brain inflammation. The mosquito gets West Nile virus from infected birds. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant, putrid water. Females suck our blood, while the males feed on plant nectars. The can develop from egg to adult in 10 to 14 days. They are most active from dusk to dawn and will travel up to 14 miles for a blood meal.