Now is the best time to control ticks and fleas for next spring!

If you think back about last spring, it started early after a mild winter and the spring changed to a summer that was hot, humid and dry. Now fall is almost here and the weather continues to stay mild, so entomologists from across the nation are finding that the tick population is still building--and that could mean major problems for next year. Because it got so warm so early, the ticks came out of dormancy early and have had extra time to mature, mate, and prepare for the egg-laying season for next spring.

Right now, the adult ticks are still feeding in preparation for a long winter sleep to prepare for the egg laying in the spring. Because of the mild year, few ticks have died due to weather conditions, and populations have soared to record highs. Here is the life cycle of a tick and how it can affect you and your pets this fall and next spring.

Ticks have three primary stages of development: larval, nymphal, and adult. Each stage requires a special host to feed on to move on to the next stage of growth to complete the life cycle--and that life cycle takes one year to complete. In the spring when the adult emerges from its long winter of hibernation, each female tick is ready to lay up to 3000 eggs on the ground during the spring season--WOW! When the eggs hatch,small larvae will emerge and begin to feed on small mammals and birds for the spring and into early summer.

They then fall from the host to the ground and molt to the nymph stage. While still on the ground, they look for a new host like deer, cats, dogs and yes YOU. This is the most dangerous stage for disease transmitted problems like Lyme Disease. At this stage they are the size of a poppy seed and grow very quickly in size from the fresh blood source. This stage can last from several months to a year depending on the blood supply. When they have achieved maximum growth they then fall off and molt again but this time to the adult stage. Many ticks are in this stage now, feeding and preparing to lay eggs for next spring. The female is the most active, because she needs blood to help produce eggs while the male feeds very little and is content to stay on the large host primarily for mating with the female.

Ticks are in the spider family--Arachnids--and have eight legs, which have two uses. Motion is one but the additional use is as a unique sensory organ known as the "Haller's organ" which can detect odor and chemicals on the body of potential host. This organ can also sense changes in temperature to help the tick prepare for the season ahead. Ticks prefer a climate that is warm and humid, as they require a certain amount of moisture in the air in order to undergo the three stages of metamorphosis. Low temperatures will slow down the development from egg to larva and that is why we have a problem this fall. We had a mild winter last year and mild and early spring this year, and that is causing concern right now.

Ticks prefer a sandy soil, and hardwood trees like oaks, maples, ash, and birch. They also prefer areas with streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Their favorite large host is the deer, their favorite small hosts are mice and chipmunks--and if you live in an area with most of these necessities, you can expect to have tick problems.

Population Reduction Tips:

• The best time of year to do this is in the Fall and Spring
• If you have property that is mostly grass, with some open fields or partially wooded, it is recommended that you treat the open areas with a product like Bayer Complete Insect Killer granules, Bonide Flea and Tick Granules and apply NOW so the rain can dissolve the product and activate the active ingredients to start killing the adults before they go into hibernation when the temperatures begin to cool off. All these products will also kill fleas when they are applied on your property, so they do not come into your home with your pets and get into your rugs and furniture.
• In the spring, apply in early May to control ticks coming out of hibernation that you may miss this fall. These products should last for several weeks, killing the adults as they emerge when the weather warms up. If you have a fenced-in yard or small yard you can also use the ready-to-spray products that you apply with the garden hose, and they will also be very effective.

Now, if you want to control the problem without using a chemical application on your lawn. Natural Alternative organic mosquito, tick, and flea control  1-888-546-5941 or have it commercially done for you with Tick and Flea Ranger call them at 1-800-989-5444.

All these products work very well and if you have children, pets or you spend time in the garden you might want to think about doing something VERY soon to reduce the problem now and again in the spring. These products are an investment in the health of your family and pets.

Fleas

It's amazing that insects know that the seasons are beginning to change and they know it's time to get inside your home for the winter where it will be nice and warm. If you own a cat or dog, this is the time of the year to get prepared for fleas to move in. Fleas are a real nuisance pest once they get a foothold in your home, and can be quite difficult to remove completely. If you're not sure if you have fleas in your home yet it's easy to tell, because they begin by biting your ankles as you sit on the couch watching TV. So do you have an itching sensation yet that is followed with scratching and the appearance of small swollen red bite marks? If yes, you have fleas and if not treated it will get worse for your pets and YOU.

Flea bites are more than annoying because that can cause allergies to your pets and you from their saliva, (spit). This often causes a rash to develop with a slightly raised swollen itchy spot like a mosquito bite. Unlike mosquitoes, you will have several bites on your body when they get active and if your pets are not treated, they will begin to scratch uncontrollably and begin to lose their hair. All this is from an insect less than 1/8 of an inch long. If you live where rodents are a common sight, even just a mouse, just remember that such problems as the Bubonic Plague passed between rodents and humans by fleas carrying the bacteria. So if you have pets like dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, mice or even raise chickens in your back yard, be prepared--and even your nice gray squirrel can leave them on your door step or deck to enter your home on your shoes or pool towels.

Fleas are difficult to see, so here is a quick description for you to remember if you feel something biting you or your pets. They are reddish-brown, wingless and are laterally compressed with all their legs on the front of the body and just behind the head, big body, and small head. They bite with piercing-sucking mouth parts through which they obtain blood from your body. Fleas can live a year or more if they can get blood regularly.

Fleas have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The flea life cycle cannot begin until the female has had blood to make her eggs fertile and when she begins to lay those eggs she will lay 20 plus to begin. The eggs are laid on the host and because they are round many fall off onto your floor, carpet or where your pet or you sleep. The eggs hatch in two day to two weeks and the larvae that emerges from the egg will feed on organic matter like feces, dead insects or even vegetable matter. When they are young they are blind and avoid sunlight, so they hide in bedding or cracks and crevices in carpeting or on the floor.

If they get enough food they will spin a silken cocoon in a week or two after they have had 3 larval stages and in another week or two emerge as an adult flea. Their main goal now is to find blood and reproduce. Now, they only have about a week to do so or they will die--so keeping the carpet and bedding clean is a real must-do. Once they get established in your home, this is what you can expect to find on your pet and furniture: 50% eggs, 35% larvae, 10% pupae, and only 5% adults. Fleas can live for a year or more if untreated, and each female flea can lay 5000 or more eggs during her lifetime--and that is why they multiply so quickly.

The best way to control fleas is to get them before they come into your home! Treat your pets with vet-recommended treatments on a regular basis, especially during the summer months, as fleas need humidity and warm temperatures over 70 degrees to multiply quickly. Once the outside temperatures fall below 70 degrees and the humidity dries out, the life cycle becomes interrupted. Also frequent vacuuming will help a lot to remove the adults that develop in carpeting and in cracks in flooring. Pet bedding should also be washed often to remove potential problems. When you vacuum your home for fleas, be sure to dispose of the bags outside of your home. If all fails you can use flea bombs once you remove your pets from the building and follow the recommendations on the label.

Outside control is your best bet, with a granular pesticide for fleas and ticks such as Bayer Complete Insect Control, or Bonide Flea And Tick Granules or organically with Natural Alternative organic mosquito tick and flea control. Apply right now to areas your pets frequent or, if your yard is fenced in, treat the entire area and the problem will be destroyed once the product is watered in or it rains out. Summer application in early July is the most effective as the temperature and humidity levels are at their prime to encourage quick flea development. But fall applications right now will be very effective to keep them out for the winter ahead.