Spring is here and it’s time to spray

We’ve finally reached the spring, which means we can enjoy the great outdoors without snow suits and mittens! Due to a mild, wet winter, research shows that the tick population will be at an all-time high this season. That’s why it’s important to contact Mosquito Joe of Wayne to get on the schedule to protect you and your family.

Let’s talk ticks

Mosquito Joe not only rids your yard of pesky mosquitoes, but we take care of ticks, too! Did you know that ticks live in tall grass and shrubs and are unable to jump or fly? Some species can follow a host by foot until they can climb aboard! Generally, tick season begins when temperatures reach and continuously stay at 50 degrees and above. Adult ticks are capable of staying active in winter and latching onto a host as early as March.

Ticks can carry the pathogens for ten human diseases and spread illnesses such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Anaplasmosis. These diseases are major health concerns, reinforcing the need to prevent tick bites. Symptoms of tick-borne illnesses include chills, headache and muscle aches. Ticks are among the most efficient carriers of disease because they attach firmly, feed slowly and may go unnoticed for a considerable amount of time.

During the winter months, ticks normally don’t survive because of the cold, dry weather. However, with a mild winter and excessive rainfall in New Jersey, the number of ticks capable of transmitting disease significantly increased. With the tick season starting earlier than normal, it is important to get ahead by getting your yard treated today!

Tips on avoiding a tick bite

To help protect your family, use these prevention methods to reduce the risk of a tick bite:

• Keep grass short and underbrush thinned at your home.
• Move wood piles away from the home.
• Wear light-colored clothes to help you spot ticks easily.
• Check your body for ticks and shower within two hours of being outdoors.
• If you find a tick, carefully remove it with fine-pointed tweezers. Grasp it by the mouth parts closest to the skin and pull it steadily outward. Do not use petroleum jelly or hot objects to remove a tick.
  • The sooner the tick is removed, the less likely it is to transmit disease.

Call Mosquito Joe of Wayne to be your second line of defense for these intruders.

Don’t be ticked off this summer

Let Mosquito Joe be another line of defense against tick-borne illnesses by applying a barrier treatment to your property. A trained technician will treat your yard with an effective solution that eliminates mosquitoes, ticks and fleas for 21 days. As an alternative to our longer-lasting synthetic treatment, our all-natural solution repels mosquitoes immediately. This less-adhesive yet effective option requires treatment on a 14-day cycle.

Still on the fence?

Give Mosquito Joe of Wayne a call at 973-435-0747 or request a quote at wayne.mosquitojoe.com. We are dedicated to making outside fun again for you and your family. With our MoJo Satisfaction Guarantee, we do not require contracts and our job is not done until you are happy!

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!

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.

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.

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We wish you a happy and safe summer!