Fleas & Ticks
Fleas
Fleas are small (1/16 to 1/8-inch (1.5 to 3.3 mm) long), agile,
usually dark colored (for example, the reddish-brown of the
cat flea), wingless insects with tube-like mouth-parts adapted
to feeding on the blood of their hosts. Their legs are long; the
hind pair well adapted for jumping: a flea can jump vertically
up to 7 inches (18 cm), and horizontally up to 13 inches (33 cm).
This is around 200 times their own body length, making the
flea one of the best jumpers of all known animals (relative to body size), second only to the froghopper. Their bodies are laterally compressed (human anatomical terms), permitting easy movement through the hairs or feathers on the host's body (or in the case of humans, under clothing). The flea body is hard, polished, and covered with many hairs and short spines directed backward, which also assist its movements on the host. The tough body is able to withstand great pressure, likely an adaptation to survive attempts to eliminate them by mashing or scratching. Even hard squeezing between the fingers is normally insufficient to kill a flea. It is possible to eliminate them by pressing individual fleas with adhesive tape or softened beeswax (or "cheese" wax) or by rolling a flea briskly between the fingers to disable it then crushing it between the fingernails. Fleas also can be drowned in water, and may not survive direct contact with anti-flea pesticides.
Fleas (Parasite) are not only a nuisance to humans and their pets, but can cause medical problems including flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), secondary skin irritations and, in extreme cases, anemia, tapeworms, stomach flu. Fleas can transmit murine typhus (endemic typhus) fever among animals and from animals to humans. Also, fleas can transmit bubonic plague and any other disease from humans to rodents and from rodents to humans. Tapeworms normally infest in humans in severe cases. Although bites are rarely felt, it is the resulting irritation caused by the flea salivary secretions that varies among individuals. Some may witness a severe reaction (general rash or inflammation) resulting in secondary infections caused by scratching the irritated skin area. Others may show no reaction, or irritation acquired after repeated bites over several weeks or months. Most bites, which are usually found on the ankles and legs, may cause irritation or pain lasting a few minutes, hours or days depending on one's sensitivity. The typical reaction to the bite is the formation of a small, hard, red, slightly-raised (swollen) itching spot.
Combating a flea infestation in the home takes patience because for every flea found on an animal, there could be many more developing in the home. A spot-on insecticide will kill the fleas on the pet and in turn the pet itself will be a roving flea trap and mop up newly hatched fleas. The environment should be treated with a fogger or spray insecticide containing an insect growth regulator, such as pyriproxyfen or methoprene to kill eggs and pupae, which are quite resistant against insecticides. Frequent vacuuming is also helpful, but the vacuum bag must be disposed of immediately afterwards.
Have your pets treated before treating your home so as not to re-infest your home. Call a Bug Doctor specialist to inspect the situation and schedule treatment.
For instructions on how to prepare for a flea service Click Here
Ticks
Ticks are blood-feeding parasites that are often found in tall grass where they will
wait to attach to a passing host. A tick will attach itself to its host by inserting its
chelicerae (cutting mandibles) and hypostome (feeding tube) into the skin. The
hypostome is covered with recurved teeth and serves as a hammer.
Physical contact is not the only method of transportation for ticks. Ticks can't jump
or fly. Some species stalk the host from ground level, emerging from cracks or
crevices located in the woods or even inside a home or kennel, where infestations of "seed ticks" (the six-legged stage of newborn ticks) can attack in numbers up to 30,000 at a time. Weak or elderly dogs, puppies, and cats are particularly endangered and can die from anemia from a sudden influx of seed ticks. Seed ticks also attack horses, cattle, moose, lions and other mammals, causing anemia, various diseases, paralysis, and even death. Such infestations can be difficult to detect until thousands have attached themselves to an animal, and eradication can be difficult. Mature ticks are harder to see. Frequent grooming and chemicals for control may control the spread of seed ticks and adults.
Changes in temperature and day length are some of the factors signaling a tick to seek a host. Ticks can detect heat emitted or carbon dioxide respired from a nearby host. They will generally drop off the animal when full, but this may take several days. In some cases ticks will live for some time on the blood of an animal. Ticks are more active outdoors in warm weather, but can attack a host at any time.
Ticks can be found in most wooded or forested regions throughout the world. They are especially common in areas where there are deer trails or human tracks. Ticks are especially abundant near water, where warm-blooded animals come to drink, and in meadows, wherever shrubs and brush provide woody surfaces and cover.
Ticks are a vector for a number of diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and, other Tick-borne diseases.
Contact your Bug Doctor specialist to find out more about tick control and what Bug Doctor can do to control this problem.
More Information on Lyme disease And Ticks
