Flea and Tick Control

Fleas are holometabolous insects, going through the four lifecycle stages of egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In most species, neither female nor male fleas are fully mature when they first emerge but must feed on blood before they become capable of reproduction. Flea populations consist of roughly 50% eggs, 35% larvae, 10% pupae, and 5% adults. Fleas are vectors for viral, bacterial and rickettsial diseases of humans and other animals. Bacterial diseases carried by fleas include typhus, and bubonic plague. They may also carry tapeworms, and fleas that specialize as parasites on specific mammals may use other mammals as hosts; thus, humans may be bitten by cat and dog fleas.

Fleas have a significant economic impact. In America alone, approximately $2.8 billion is spent annually on flea-related veterinary bills and another $1.6 billion annually for flea treatment with pet groomers. Four billion dollars is spent annually for prescription flea treatment and $348 million for flea pest control.

Ticks are parasitic arachnids, meaning they’re a loose cousin to a spider. Ticks are implicated in the transmission of a number of infections caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. A tick can harbor more than one type of pathogen, making diagnosis more difficult. Species of the bacterial genus Rickettsia are responsible for typhus, rickettsialpox, boutonneuse fever, African tick bite fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Other tick-borne diseases include Lyme disease and Q fever. In the United States, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the country.

CONTROL: Diamondhead Termite & Pest has the equipment, skill and knowledge to safely and effectively rid you of your interior and exterior flea and tick problem. While working with you, we can find ways to prevent such and infestation in the future.