Ah… Spring. That beautiful time of the year when all the flowers are in bloom, the trees have new leaves, and the bugs come out of the woodworks for one common goal… to eat you and your pets alive! Dramatic, sure, but it’s not too far from the truth. There are many nasty little insects that enjoy making a meal out of you and your pets. How do you stop them? Here are some ways to keep these top six insects from driving you “buggy” and prevent them from harming you and your pets.
Fleas
Oh, so itchy! If your pet is scratching a lot, it’s just possible he has a flea or two who have made a home in his fur. At first, you might not notice them. They are quite small and hide between your pet’s hair follicles. You might catch a glimpse of them hopping around on your pet if you watch closely.
Fleas are bloodsucking parasites that live on animals, such as cats and dogs. Some pets are very allergic to flea bites, which can cause a lot of problems. Also, if your pet becomes infested with fleas, they can lose their hair and their immune system can be weakened. For humans, flea bites can prove fatal in some cases. Cat Scratch Fever (Disease) – yes, it’s more than a song — is a bacterial disease that can make humans really sick. Also, the Bubonic Plague, yet another bacterial disease, was mainly brought about by fleas sucking the blood of infected rodents and transferring the disease to humans.
Thankfully, there are many store-bought ways to combat fleas.
- Plant some mint around your yard. The smell drives fleas and many other types of insects away.
- Do you like to take walks with your pet? Use a flea comb on your pet before returning to your property.
- If your pet isn’t allergic, purchase a good flea collar to prevent fleas from sticking around.
- Don’t invite other pets into your house.
- Use a flea trap to capture any fleas that happen to hop onto your property.
- Flea sprays are also another way to prevent fleas from making a home in your house.
Ticks
In no way are these insects Fantas-tick. They’re more like Fantas-ick! These bloodsucking vermin are the #1 cause of Lyme disease. If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause extreme joint pain and discomfort and can even attack the nervous system. Not only does Lyme disease pose a threat to humans, but it can also have the same effect on your pets as well. The best ways to prevent ticks from attacking your property are:
- Keep your yard free of dead leaves and timber and keep your grass cut, so no fleas have a place to hide.
- Cut back ivy and other dense ground cover from around your house.
- Use flea and tick sprays.
- Clean your pets regularly with flea and tick soap.
Spiders
Most spiders, although creepy, are harmless and somewhat helpful against other insects. It’s those few that aren’t so harmless that give the others a bad name. If bitten by a Black Widow or a Brown Recluse spider, your pet could die. These nasty spiders pack a venomous punch, and you never know when they’ll show up. They typically like cool, dark areas, such as wood piles or in outside storage areas. They have been known to build nests in vents and attic fans as well.
- Spray a mixture of white vinegar and water around the outside of your property to keep spiders away. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which gives it a sour taste and odor that spiders are sensitive to.
- Sprinkle cedar chips around your house. Like mint, a lot of insects don’t like the smell of cedar.
- Keep things uncluttered. Spiders like to hide in dark places, so keeping your area open and full of light keep spiders from wanting to nest.
- And, of course, there is always spray.
Heart Worms
Mosquitoes are a major pest around the house, especially during the spring and summer months. They’re well known for carrying a menagerie of diseases, but among its’ bag of deadly tricks, it carries the heartworm microfilariae. It’s the immature stage of the heartworm and can transfer it to a dog. Sadly, Heartworm infestations can kill your pet. Preventing mosquito bites can prove difficult, but there are ways to keep threats to a minimum.
- Eliminate any standing water from around your property.
- Plant Basil, Marigolds, Catnip or Lavender.
- Use fans in outdoor areas. Mosquitoes have difficulty flying in the wind more than 1 mile per hour.
- Use a mosquito repellent on you and your dog’s skin/fur.
Ants
Not only are they a picnic menace, but they also happen to really enjoy pet food. Your pet may accidentally eat ants that have overrun their food. Although eating ants won’t kill your pet, it will make them very ill. To prevent ants from reaching into your pet’s food, make sure to keep all food in airtight containers. Never leave pet food out. Always put the food away after your pet is finished.
Flies
Flies are everywhere! It doesn’t matter if you keep your food ceiled they always seem to know when something delicious is around. And if they can’t nibble on your dinner, they’ll nibble on your pets instead. The problem is flies tend to leave larvae in pet’s hair that grow into maggots. Oh, the shivers. Maggot infestation, or myiasis, can cause extreme discomfort for your pet. The maggots eat away at your pet’s skin, causing skin lesions which can weaken their immune system and eventually kill them.
To get rid of flies around your property, you can try:
- Using Vodka. For some reason, flies can’t stand the smell. Use a mix of Vodka, Aloe Vera juice and lemon eucalyptus oil in a spray bottle and spray the mist around.
- Sprinkle cloves on your trash cans.
- Mint, lavender, and basil come to the rescue again. Make a beautiful flower arrangement with lavender to keep away unwanted flies.
- **** Don’t use sticky fly strips. It may kill flies, but it also attracts them as well, causing more harm than good.
If your insect problem is driving you up the walls and fighting them has become an impossible task, then it’s time to call a professional. The professionals at AIPM are trained in handling all types of insect and pest issues. They can eliminate the threats to your property while setting up a custom plan to ensure that you never have to face the same type of infestation again.
Sources
- https://www.healthline.com/health/cat-scratch-disease#symptoms4
- https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/bubonic-plague
- https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_dg_lyme_disease
- https://www.stopticks.org/prevention/
- https://farmersalmanac.com/blog/2015/07/17/10-natural-ways-to-keep-spiders-out-of-your-house/
- https://www.prevention.com/health/stop-mosquito-bites/slide/1
- https://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Health/Flies.aspx
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