The Truth about Mosquitoes

Could you imagine if the deadliest animal in the world came into your own New Jersey backyard? Would you be able to protect your loved ones against it? Well, odds are you have faced this animal multiple times, and many people are unaware of its true dangers.

The mosquito kills at least 725,000 people a year making it the deadliest animal by far. Yes, that’s right, that tiny little pest buzzing around your ear can actually do a lot of harm. The only other animal that comes close is a snake, which kills a mere 50,000 people a year. The frightening shark only kills around 10 people a year!

Some of the dangerous diseases that mosquitoes can spread include malaria, Dengue, yellow fever, West Nile, and the most recently the Zika virus. During their breeding season, there are more mosquitoes in the world than any other animal except for ants and termites. It also doesn’t look like we will be stopping these deadly creatures anytime soon. There are over 2,500 different species of mosquitoes and they can be found all over the world (except Antarctica). Mosquitoes have also changed their eating habits to adapt to changing environments. They now start feeding earlier in the year. This is why it is so important to spray for mosquitoes as soon as possible. Now is a good time to take advantage of our pre-pay discounts.

The mosquito is considered a vector because they can transfer diseases between humans, or from animals to humans. Other vectors include ticks and fleas. Vector-borne diseases account for 17% of all infectious diseases around the world. Ticks are most active the month of April. Mosquito Joe can help you in your quest against these deadly vectors by spraying for all three insects.

At Mosquito Joe, we work our hardest to make sure you and your family are protected against the world’s deadliest animal. Make sure to contact us soon so that we can help protect you, your family and your pets against these pests. You can reach us anytime at 973-435-0747 or by emailing us at wayne@mosquitojoe.com.

Back

Types of Ticks

With the warmer weather starting, many people have been taking advantage of the beautiful outdoors. Living in New Jersey, the prevalence of ticks is not something to ignore, so it should be common practice to check for ticks after going into heavily wooded areas. But, even if you have found a tick on yourself, most people aren’t able to identify the type of tick and whether or not it is a possible host of a tick-borne disease.

We compiled a short description for you on each common tick in our area. Read our tips below in case you ever come across one of nature’s biggest pests.

In New Jersey, the three most common ticks are the Blacklegged Tick, the Brown Dog Tick and the American Dog Tick. The male ticks cannot transmit diseases, only the female and nymphai (second stage) ticks can.

Blacklegged Tick

The Blacklegged Tick is also commonly known as the Deer Tick. These ticks can use humans and pets as hosts, and humans can contract Lyme Disease from blacklegged ticks. They are brownish in color, but turn red after a feeding. They will also double their size and can expand to 10 mm long. They live in wooded areas and along forest trails.

Brown Dog Tick

The Brown Dog Tick prefers dogs as its host over humans, and they do not carry Lyme. They like to live indoors and in warm conditions. These ticks are brown, but females turn a blue-gray color after a feeding.

American Dog Tick

The American Dog Tick is also commonly found on dogs, but can go for larger mammals such as cattle and humans. These ticks are reddish-brown in color with white markings on their scutum (the middle shield-like segment of the tick). They do not carry Lyme disease but can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

If you believe you have been bitten by a tick, it is important to either identify the type of tick it is or to hold on to the tick until you can contact your doctor. Lyme disease is extremely treatable if caught early enough.

With spring only days away, now is the best time for professional tick control. Prevention is the greatest tool, and Mosquito Joe can be an added defense against tick-borne disease. Call our office today to make your appointment and see how we can help ease your worries.

 

Back