Expert Tips For Preventing Tick Bites In Houston
Many people consider ticks one of the most annoying pests that invade your yard. While these arachnids are annoying, they can also be hazardous to your health. Ticks can come in a variety of sizes and colors, but they are all small when compared to other types of arachnids. The largest tick only measures about ¼ of an inch long, but the average tick is only about 1mm long. Because they are so small, you usually don't know that you have a tick infestation until you start seeing tick bites all over your body.
At Modern Pest Control, we know how dangerous and relentless the ticks in Texas can be. Our Houston pest control specialists can help you identify and erase ticks from your property.
All The Places Ticks Like To Hide Out
Ticks are so small that they can hide behind a single blade of grass without being seen. Ticks prefer shady areas and will often hide around trees and bushes. You could find ticks in almost any area of your yard, but some of the most common places include playground equipment, under patio furniture, and inside leaf piles.
While they are not known to be the fastest type of arachnid, the tick's small size typically allows it to crawl on people and animals without being detected. They usually stay close to the ground. Once they crawl on your shoe, they will continue upward until they find a place to bite.
Ticks Are Known To Spread Many Dangerous Diseases
The American dog tick, the blacklegged tick, and the lone star tick are just a few of the common tick species in Houston that you are likely to see. These ticks can carry a wide range of diseases that can be transmitted to you. Some of the illnesses that people in this area have been known to catch from a tick bite include:
Lyme disease
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Boutonneuse fever
Anaplasmosis
Ehrlichiosis
Powassan virus
Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI)
When a tick bites you, it will actually insert its head into your skin. This allows it to drink blood for long periods of time without the risk of falling off of its host during the feeding. While they are feeding, they will also inject a tiny bit of saliva into your body. Usually, the saliva is harmless. However, if the tick is infected with one of the diseases listed above, you could end up with the same illness if the infected saliva is injected into you.
Effective Tips To Protect Yourself From Tick Bites
While it may seem impossible to escape ticks during the hot summer months completely, there are a few things that you can do that will minimize your chances of being bitten by a tick when you are outdoors. Some of the most effective preventative tips that you can try include:
Remove excessive vegetation from your yard
Keep the grass cut as short as possible
Apply flea and tick medication to your pets
Don't sit in the shade for too long when outdoors
If you want to keep ticks away from you, try wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when outside. This won't completely stop ticks from biting you, but it could slow them down and reduce the number of tick bites you get when outdoors.
The Key To Effective Tick Control For Houston Properties
Ticks can be a problem for most of the year in Houston. If you want to keep your family safe this year, give our pros at Modern Pest Control a call. We have a multi-step home pest control plan that will eliminate the ticks from your property and ensure that they don't come back anytime soon.