Category Archives: Health/Disease

While the weather has certainly been our friend so far this summer, the tick population has not in New Jersey. It seems like there are countless posts appearing on social media and conversations with parents finding ticks on themselves and their little ones. While this could be terrifying, our tips below will help you stay calm.

After you have spotted the tick, the first step is tick removal or retrieval. You will need a good pair of tweezers for this. Clean the area around the bite with rubbing alcohol. Make sure you don’t squeeze the body of the tick, but instead pull out the mouth of the tick with the tweezers. Pull the tick out in a steady motion, making sure not to move it around too much. When the tick is removed, clean the area again with the rubbing alcohol. Don’t fall for the old wives’ tales of using petroleum jelly or burning cigarettes, the method above will work just fine! Give your doctor a call so they can advise you on how to proceed after the bite.

If you live in an area where Lyme disease is common, you might want to save the tick to get it tested. You also might want to hold on to the tick while you monitor your symptoms. (Note, the tick does not have to be alive to have it tested). Make sure to look out for any sort of rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms. If you notice any of these symptoms, visit a doctor immediately.

Some types of ticks are more likely to carry diseases than others. The three most common types of ticks in New Jersey are The Blacklegged Tick, The Lone Star Tick, and The American Dog Tick.

The female blacklegged tick has a red/orange abdomen with a black dorsal shield. It has a teardrop shape and only the female can carry diseases. These ticks primarily carry Lyme in addition to other tick-borne illnesses.

The Lone Star Tick has a single white dot in the center of its body. They are more likely to carry Tularemia and Ehrlichiosis. This is the tick that can cause meat allergies.

The American Dog Tick has a dark brown abdomen and white marks on its dorsal shield. It can also carry Ehrlichiosis but is primarily known for spreading Rocky Mountain Fever.

The good news about a tick bite is that it usually takes a little while for it to spread any of their diseases. If you think the tick has been on you for less than 24 hours, you are likely in the clear.

To help ease your worries, you can focus on prevention. Wearing long sleeves and pants outside can help keep ticks from getting on to your skin. And to eliminate the tick population in your own backyard, call one of our professionals today at 973-435-0747. They can assist you with tick and mosquito control, as well as deciding what spray works best for your yard. Stay safe!

Memorial Day Weekend usually signifies the unofficial start of summer. It’s the start of barbecues, baseball games, and pool parties. But there is one thing that could prevent you from really enjoying your backyard this summer. This summer could end up being one of the buggiest we’ve seen in years.

Due to a very wet winter and spring, pest populations are on the rise. All that excess moisture has created many breeding grounds for mosquitoes and ticks.  Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water and they only require about an inch. That means there could be mosquito eggs all over your yard, including in tire wells, toys or grill covers! This March we also had unprecedented warm temperatures for a period of time. Those temperatures are adding to an especially buggy spring. With the warmer temperatures coming in the next few months, the number of mosquitoes and ticks are only going to increase.

With an increase in temperature and bug population, there also comes an increase in illness. Warmer temperatures extend the time that mosquitoes are able to spread diseases. The CDC has reported illnesses from ticks and mosquitoes has tripled from 2004. These illnesses and diseases include Lyme disease, yellow fever, and west nile. And more recently the Lone star tick, known to frequently bite people, can carry ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and STARI, according to the University of Rhode Island. They’re common in New Jersey, so be sure to keep a close eye out for them when you come home from that next trek in the woods. Lone Star’s are easy to spot because they have a white dot on their back. Many cases of these diseases go unreported or underreported, so the numbers could be even higher.

As the summer warmth continues, these pests are just going to get more comfortable in your yard. So how can you win the battle of the pests this summer? Get rid of any standing water in your yard; clean out gutters and any flower pots that are collecting excess water. Make sure that your hose faucets aren’t leaking and creating puddles anywhere. Be sure to mow your lawn frequently to cut down on ticks as well. An added benefit of implementing these tips is a beautiful yard!

But the best way to stay on top of the pest population this summer is to contact one of our Mosquito Joe of Wayne professionals today. Give us a call at 973-435-0747 so we can talk to you about your mosquito and tick spraying needs. Or fill out the form to the right to get a free quote! We also offer all natural for those of you that prefer option. Believe us when we say, this is the way to win back your yard and enjoy summer!

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.

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.

How to Protect your Home, Family, and Pets in Wayne, New Jersey:

Thursday’s winter storm has become one for the history books! With wind and snowfall intensifying, the storm has been classified as a ‘bomb cyclone’. Hearing the term ‘bomb cyclone’ can be a little alarming, but these tips will put you at ease to battle this weather head on!

1. With temperatures dipping this low, frozen pipes are often a homeowner’s biggest concern. To avoid having your pipes burst and scrambling for an emergency plumber, let your faucets drip slightly as a way to provide the pipes some relief. Leaving your kitchen and bathroom cabinets open will also help to distribute warm air around your pipes. Lastly, before our next winter storm hits, make sure your gutters are clean so there’s no chance of water backing up and then freezing.
2. When you have to make the inevitable trip outside to shovel the driveway, keep a few safety tips in mind. Just like with any exercise, you want to make sure you do a few stretches before starting. This is especially important while shoveling because cold muscles are more likely to be injured. Focus on your neck, arms, lower back and hamstrings. To make shoveling a little easier, try spraying non-stick cooking spray on your shovel so the snow won’t stick. Most importantly, take several breaks while shoveling and be sure to stay hydrated!
3. There are also several precautions you should take with any furry friends before they make a trip outside. Try to wait to walk your dogs in the late morning and early afternoon where there is a chance for more sunshine. This way you can both soak up your daily Vitamin D while venturing the elements in warmer temps. After coming in from your walk, make sure to wipe your dog’s paws off to remove any of the salt they may have picked up from the road. This will prevent them from getting cracks in their paws. When they are inside trying to find warmth from the storm, make sure they don’t get too close to space heaters or fireplaces as they can easily get burned. Finally, when making your emergency kits before a storm, don’t forget your pets! They will need additional food and water packed for them as well.

Contact us if you have any further questions or need assistance. You can reach us via email at wayne@mosquitojoe.com, on our Facebook page, or by giving us a call directly at 973-435-0747. Stay safe and stay warm!

And remember, those pesky mosquitoes are only hibernating right now, but they will return as soon as it gets warm. Only 74 days until Spring, but who’s counting 🙂