Ticks are tiny, disgusting pests that can cause significant problems around your Collegeville property. Just the thought of these little pests biting you or your pets and sucking your blood can make you feel uncomfortable, and that is before you know about all the issues that ticks can cause.
Read on to learn more about ticks, the problems they can cause, what you can do to prevent them, and how professional pest control in Collegeville, like the experts from Terra Pest Management Specialists, can help keep you and your family protected from these pests.
The Life Cycle Of Common Ticks
The life expectancy of ticks is around three years. During that time, they go through different stages. Once they hatch from their eggs, ticks in Collegeville need blood meals to survive. Here are the four stages of a tick’s lifecycle:
- Egg: Ticks lay thousands of eggs at a time, usually near an area where animals are common. Tick eggs may have the appearance of miniature caviar.
- Larvae: The larval stage lasts up to three months. Tick larvae are microscopic and can attach to one host in large numbers.
- Nymph: Most tick infections occur from ticks in the nymph stage. Ticks in this stage are about two millimeters in size, and most often feed in the spring and summer.
- Adult: Adult ticks feed on a host, become engorged, and drop off to lay thousands of eggs, allowing the cycle to continue.
It is essential to know that at any stage of a tick’s lifecycle, it can bite and spread diseases.
The Problems Ticks On Your Property Can Create
Thinking about a tick attaching itself to you and sucking your blood is disgusting. Even if a small, painful bite were the only problem caused by ticks, that would be enough. But aside from a painful red welt, tick bites can also spread diseases, including Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, tularemia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
If you spend time in common tick habitats, you should take precautions to avoid a tick bite. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and tall socks. You should always check yourself for ticks immediately after coming inside. You should always check your pets for ticks if they have spent time outside because tick-borne diseases can also affect dogs, cats, and other domestic animals.
How To Make Your Property Less Appealing To Ticks And Their Hosts
Ticks are disgusting and potentially dangerous. For all the dangers of ticks on your property, you want to do everything you can to keep them away. Here are some ways to prevent ticks around your property:
- Mow your lawn regularly.
- Keep leaves raked.
- Clear tall grass and brush on the edges of your property.
- Keep a 3-foot barrier of gravel or mulch between grass and wooded areas and your recreational areas, such as patios or playgrounds.
- Keep wood dry and neatly stacked.
You also need to take the necessary steps to keep wildlife and rodents off your property since they are common hosts for ticks.
The Most Effective Tick Control For Your Property
Taking steps to prevent ticks will help keep them off your property, but there is no substitute for professional tick control from Terra Pest Management Specialists. Our trained experts can treat your yard, eliminating ticks in every phase of their lifecycle. We can also help with rodent exclusion and wildlife prevention to keep tick hosts away from your home and yard.
Don’t risk a potentially dangerous tick bite for you, your family, or your furry friends. Call us for home pest control you can count on to keep you and your family protected.
Our certified pest experts will work with you to find the best solution for your needs. Simply fill out this form for a free, no-obligation estimate.