Did You Know?
A flea can jump 150 times the length of its body! That’s like a human jumping over a skyscraper! Fleas can be difficult to eradicate. One of the best things you can do for an existing flea problem is constantly vacuum. Remember to empty the vacuum outside!
For ticks, always check your scalp, navel, underarms, elbows, and behind your knees. For your pets, normally the ears and head are likely areas.
Scabies is a skin infection caused by mites. They can’t survive more than a couple of days away from human skin. Bedding, clothing, and towels should be washed and dried at a high temperature. Left untreated, scabies can live on your skin for months and even burrow to lay eggs in your skin.
Fleas & Ticks & Mites… Oh My!
Fleas
There are about 2,500 different species of fleas in the world, 900 different species of ticks, and an astounding 48,000 species of mites. While not all species reside in the United States, all fleas and ticks are parasitic, bite, and can spread diseases which can affect you, your pets, your home, and your business.
Fleas are most commonly brought into homes and businesses by our furry friends as well as unwelcomed visitors, such as rodents and other wildlife. Unfortunately, only treating your pets for fleas or removing rodents and other wildlife is typically not enough to eradicate the problem. Once a person, pet, or rodent carrying fleas enters your home or business, fleas can jump off and lay eggs in the carpet and between the floor boards. Even worse, when flea infested rodents or wildlife are removed from your home or business, fleas search for other ways to get their meals, which usually results in fleas feeding on pets and people. Flea bites can be very itchy, swell, cause allergic reactions, and even result in disease transmission.
Many people who have experienced fleas inside of their home or business can relate to the experience of fleas disappearing only to notice their sudden reappearance months later. Since fleas live in their cocoons for up to a year before hatching, they can seemingly disappear and reappear. Fleas can carry a multitude of diseases, such as the bubonic plague and flea-borne typhus, so they certainly warrant a sense of caution when found in or around your home or business.
Ticks
Ticks are just as dangerous as fleas, albeit a bit different. Ticks can transmit many different infections and viruses. The most common disease ticks carry is Lyme disease. The rates of Lyme disease have been on the rise over the last three decades, and it can result in serious health complications.
While fleas can catch a ride by jumping onto you, ticks must reach out their front legs and physically grab onto something in their reach, which could be your pant legs or your pet’s fur. Ticks are opportunistic and known for their excellent ability to hitchhike. By checking your body, clothes, and pets for ticks, you can help prevent them from entering your home or business.
Ticks normally feed on a host for about 3-10 days. After feeding, ticks fall off their host. If the tick is a pregnant female, she will lay her eggs after releasing. Ticks, like fleas, love warm, humid conditions; however, they can still survive if the temperature is above freezing, and the cold can drive them into your home or business.
Mites
Mites are a versatile group of pests which is no surprise considering the sheer number of mite species in the world. Most mites pose no threat to humans; however, there are mites that can spread disease, have painful bites, cause itching, discomfort, or feed on stored food. Mites can enter a home or business through a carrier or by entering through cracks and crevices. It can be difficult to identify a mite infestation as most mites are microscopic. Some mites can be seen through their movement like Clover Mites. Clover Mites are bright red in color and usually infest in high numbers. Other than being a nuisance, Clover Mites do not pose a threat to the health of humans unless someone is allergic where minor skin irritation may occur. Some of the most well-known mites are Bird Mites, Chigger Mites, Dust Mites, Tropical Rat Mites, Spider Mites, and Scabies. Bird Mites only pose a threat to pet birds and poultry, while chiggers can bite humans. Chigger bites normally start to itch a few hours after being bit and can spread disease. Another mite species that harms humans is the Dust Mite, which has been linked to triggering asthma attacks and allergies. One of the most bothersome mites to humans is the Tropical Rat Mite, which has a painful bite and can be found inside a home or business after a rodent infestation. Thankfully, Spider Mites are found on plants and crops and can be controlled through use of our yard services. Scabies, another type of mite can easily spread and infest homes and businesses. These mites can be very frustrating and cause severe complications as they can live and reproduce on people’s skin. Vacuuming, washing and drying materials at the highest temperature, and the use of mite proof encasements are great initial strategies if mites are an issue. If you are worried about mites or recently had rodent issues, call Eco-Safe. Eco-Safe offers inspection and treatment strategies for treating and eradicating mites.