Biting Insects

Fleas, lice, mosquitoes, bed bugs - these predatory insects are known as biting insects. They feed on the blood of humans or animals, and cause a variety of health problems ranging from annoying itches to fatal viral infections.

The best prevention method for most of these pests is to schedule regular treatments by a trained pest control professional. Terminix uses advanced treatment solutions to keep these pest populations under control, although in some cases, such as with mosquitoes, complete elimination is not possible.

Here are a few steps you can take to keep to control biting insects:

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are water-loving insects, so naturally, any collection of water in your yard or near your home will likely attract these pests - particularly if you live in a warm, damp region of the U.S. So the first step in reducing the number of mosquitoes on your property is to eliminate water that's been standing for 7 or more days.

This includes

• Removing buckets, barrels or other containers that can collect rainwater and may be forgotten for several days.
• Emptying children's pools after use and keeping them in covered areas when not in use.
• Regularly treating adult pools and keeping them covered when not in use.
• Clear gutters on a regular basis. Clogs caused by leaves, limbs and debris and create pools of standing water in the gutter.
• Drill holes in the bottom of tire swings, or tires used for other outdoor purposes, such as sandboxes and flower beds. This will allow rainwater to drain properly.
• Fill in tree holes with organic material from your local nursery. Do the same with ditches or low-lying areas of your yard that tend to collect standing water after rain showers.
• Install an agitator or buy mosquito larvae-eating fish for decorative ponds. The agitator's motion will prevent pupae from developing into adults.

Lice

When most people think of lice, they think of elementary school head lice epidemics. And it's for good reason. Head lice can be hard to spot, difficult to treat and are very contagious among children. Pest control professionals can't treat this kind of lice infestation. Only a doctor can prescribe shampoos and creams to help wipe out these nasty pests.

Here are a few things you can do to treat head lice and stop it from spreading:

• Use a fine-toothed comb to remove lice and nits from hair
• Don't share brushes, combs, hats, towels or bedding with an infested person
• Wash clothes, towels and bedding of infested person with hot water and detergent
• Boil brushes and combs after use, then wash with warm water and soap

A common type of lice pest control professionals can treat is bird lice. These lice feed on birds, and can enter homes or businesses when these birds nest in attics, eaves and overhangs. To eliminate this type of lice, you first need to rid the building of the bird problem. Then a Terminix pest control professional can be called in to treat the nest area.

Fleas

Fleas are prolific breeders, laying up to 18 eggs a day on family pets. So the most obvious control area for flea is your dog or cat. Only a licensed veterinarian should treat an active flea infestation on your dog or cat. To treat your home, your Terminix professional will apply a residual solution along with an insect growth inhibitor. Outside areas can also be treated to help control the chances your dog or cat will come into contact with fleas again in the future.

Types of Biting insects

The most common types of biting insects are:

• Asian Tiger Mosquito
• Bed Bugs
• Bird Lice
• Cat Flea
• House Mosquito
• Human Head Lice
• Kissing Bug
• Pubic (Crab) Lice
• Thrips