Category Archives: Health/Disease

Not only are school supplies lining the aisles of every store, but shorter days and pick-up football games are also quickly approaching. The harsh reality is setting in, summer is coming to an end. But that doesn’t mean your mosquito and tick control should! Don’t let dropping temperatures trick you into ending your mosquito and tick control service early, or in other words, Don’t Stop the MoJo! Families, pets and children will still be playing outside for a few more months and mosquitoes and ticks are still very active! And the forecast shows temps between 75-85 degrees for the next few weeks. Keep your family protected from harsh diseases and viruses that mosquitoes and ticks carry.

Why continue service?

The weather will continue to be warm for the next several weeks. If you choose to stop your barrier spray or service is not continued every 14 (all natural) or every 21 days (synthetic), you will notice a surge in mosquito and tick activity. It is imperative to continue your service. If you would like to extend your sprays, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will get you on our schedule as soon as possible!

Why get sprayed when it gets chilly?

Mosquitoes can be tricky creatures. They lay eggs, hibernate, and can survive some pretty frigid temperatures throughout the winter. The only things necessary in order for eggs to hatch are water and temperatures above 50 degrees, which can make your 2018 spring a nightmare. Don’t let those mosquitoes trick you into ending service before the season ends. You’ll thank us later! Also, many types of ticks can remain active in their adult stage from fall to spring as long as the temperature is above freezing.

If you have any questions or need to book an appointment for mosquito and tick control, please contact us at 973-435-0747 or you may email us at wayne@mosquitojoe.com. You may also visit our website for more information at wayne.mosquitojoe.com.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and we wish all the children a happy and safe school year!

Many ticks in New Jersey can carry harmful diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease and the latest disease POW (Powassan). These insects aren’t just pests, but pose serious health risks as well. To learn more please about these diseases, please visit the CDC website.

The deer tick is very tiny. It’s no larger than a pencil point! Can you believe that? Other ticks are larger and can be easier to find on the skin. Click here to learn more about identifying different types of ticks.

If you are already using Mosquito Joe, then your yard is protected from ticks, fleas and mosquitoes! But for the days where you are out in wooded areas or at your children’s sporting events, it is possible that you will find ticks on you or your family members. Ticks are very active in New Jersey right now so we wanted to provide you with a quick how-to for the removal process!

The Best Way to Remove a Tick:

1. Use a clean sterile tweezer to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth next to your skin. Note: do not grab the tick around its body. That could push infected fluid from the tick into your body if you squeeze it.
2. Next, pull upward and firmly until the tick is off of your skin. Do not twist it out.
3. It is recommended to put the tick in a zip-locked bag. We also suggest calling your primary doctor or pediatrician for advice. Submerge the tick in rubbing alcohol to kill it prior to putting in a bag. Your doctor may have you bring the tick in to be tested. Watch for symptoms such as the telltale “bulls-eye” rash, a flu-like feeling, fever, headache, and joint or muscle pains.
4. Be sure to wash your hands and affected area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
5. Check yourself rigorously for ticks every day. That way if you are bitten, you’ll know the tick has been attached for less than 24 hours.

Be sure to follow our Facebook page and blog for updated information about ticks and mosquitoes, special offers and more.

If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment for service, please contact us at wayne@mosquitojoe.com.

We wish you a safe, happy and tick-free summer!

The topic of ticks has been all over the news in New Jersey the past few weeks. If you don’t have time to watch the news, look it up and you will find tons of news stories. The NJ Patch published this article a few weeks ago which talks about a new disease transmitted from ticks called Powassan (POW). 

The Centers for Disease Control is predicting this summer to be the worst tick season on record due to the mild winter we experienced. In addition to the population, the new disease called Powassan, a potentially fatal viral disease transmitted by ticks is on the rise. The same tick that carries Lyme disease has caused Powassan, also known as POW. It is a viral infection that can impact the nervous system, memory, thinking and balance. New York has had 16 reported cases, the second highest amount in the country. Other states that have reported cases are Minnesota with 20, Wisconsin with 15, Massachusetts with 8, New Jersey with 5, Maine with 2, New Hampshire with 1, Pennsylvania with 1 and finally, Virginia with 1. Symptoms of POW include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, and memory loss, so be on the lookout!

Reducing exposure to ticks is the best protection against POW, Lyme disease, and other tickborne infections. There are several ways you can prevent ticks including avoiding wooded areas with high grass and using a repellent that contains 20 percent or more of DEET. We also recommend showering yourself and your children as soon you come home from being in wooded areas to easily find and ticks on your body.

It is important to check the following areas on your body for ticks:

1. In and around the ears
2. Inside belly button
3. Back of the knees
4. In and around the hair
5. Between the legs
6. Around the waist
7. Under the arms

Mosquito Joe sprays for mosquitoes, fleas and ticks and we take it very seriously. Our technicians are highly trained and our job is to make your yard a safe place to enjoy!

Now is the best time to book your appointment. Please contact us at 973-435-0747 or visit our website at www.wayne.mosquitojoe.com.

Follow our blog for more information about this topic.

We wish you a happy and safe summer!

Heartworm disease is a serious disease and can sadly, cause death in pets. It affects cats, dogs, and ferrets. Heartworm is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito and has been reported in all 50 states! The bite of just one mosquito infected with the heartworm larvae will give your pet heartworm disease. This is why it’s important to protect your pets and have Mosquito Joe treat your yard!

It takes approximately seven months after the animal is bitten by an infected mosquito for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms. The heartworms then live in the lungs, heart and surrounding blood vessels. Adult worms can grow to be 12 inches long and can live for about 5-7 years. A dog can contract as many as 250 worms in their body.

You can prevent heartworm disease in your animal and it does not cost too much money. There are monthly pills and monthly topicals that you put on the animal’s skin, and now there’s also a six-month injectable product. A year’s supply of heartworm preventative will cost about $35 to $80, depending on a dog’s weight. You can learn more about Heartworm symptoms and prevention by visiting the American Heartworm Society.

As a reminder, we are offering a free spray to anyone who adopts a pet from the Wayne Animal Shelter, to protect the animal from heartworm. We are also accepting donations for the animal shelter and will match any food donations. Simply leave the bag of food or donation by your front door when we service your yard and we will deliver it to the shelter.

To protect your pet further, we offer a variety of services to prevent mosquitoes in your yard. Our most popular treatment is a barrier spray treatment that protects your yard for up to three weeks at a time. We also offer an all-natural mosquito control treatment option that repels mosquitoes for two weeks at a time. Finally, misting systems can create a more permanent solution.

Not sure what you want? Contact us at (973) 435-0747 and we can send a certified technician out to do a walk-through of your yard to recommend the best mosquito control solution for you.