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Removing Biting Insects From Your Yard Since the 1800s
Our top of the line biting insect control has been eliminating mosquitoes and ticks from yards like yours since 1896. Don't live in discomfort for another day.
Mosquito and Tick Control Service in Central Massachusetts
Mosquito Control
Central and Eastern Massachusetts is home to 51 Mosquito species. The good news is not every species actively feeds on Humans or our pets! Unfortunately, that is about all the good news there is for Mosquitoes. Depending on the season, weather conditions, flooding or proximity to wetlands different mosquito species can be present at different times. Some species only feed at night while some feed during the daytime.
Protect Your Family from Mosquito Borne Viruses
With all the news stories on Zika, West Nile, and Triple E it is understandable people are nervous. While it still needs to be proven that our species of mosquitoes can transmit Zika, it has been proven that West Nile and Triple E are transmittable in MA. Don't forget your pets and have them checked for Heartworm which is a very serious mosquito-born disease. Something you can do to reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property is to eliminate standing water (clogged rain gutters, old tires, birdbaths, etc). Remember that other bloodsucker the Tick can transmit Lyme disease that affects both humans and our pets.
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Deer Tick Control
Deer Ticks have a two-year life cycle, during which time it passes through three stages: larva, nymph, and adult. The tick must take a blood meal at each stage before maturing to the next. Ticks are active year-round; they live under the leaf litter under the snow and feed on mice and other small animals. It is usually the nymphs that people find in the springtime. In the Fall, Deer tick, females latch onto a host and drink its blood for four to five days. After it is engorged, the tick drops off and overwinters in the leaf litter of the forest floor. The following spring, the female lays several hundred to a few thousand eggs in clusters.
Dangers of Tick-Borne Diseases
Unfortunately, ticks can spread at least 10 different types of diseases in humans. These can include Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichosis, and Babeiois. The type of illness you can receive from a tick depends on its species and what type of bacteria or pathogen it might be carrying.
Lyme disease is also a huge concern with ticks. It can be a very serious disease that doctors find difficult to diagnosis. Without a diagnosis and correct treatment, symptoms can be hard to get under control.
Symptoms are easily confused with other illnesses and usually begin with flu-like fever, aches, pains, and chills. Also, most people who have been bitten by a tick and develop Lyme disease have a bullseye looking rash around the bite area, although this is not true in all people. As many as 9 out of 10 cases of Lyme disease may go unreported, so be sure to see your doctor right away if you think you have a tick bite.
Tick FAQs
How to Keep Ticks Out of Your Yard
One of the best ways to deal with ticks is to prevent them from entering your yard completely. Even if you don’t think your yard can play host to ticks, you’re better off being safe than sorry. Here are a few tips that can help.
- Keep the Lawn Mowed – The shorter your grass is, the less likely it is that you will have a tick problem. Keeping the grass short and eliminating yard waste or leaf piles means you won’t have to deal with tick problems.
- Gravel or Wood Chip A Path – If you have a path on your property, don’t hesitate to put down wood chips or gravel. The ticks are less likely to cross it, keeping your yard tick free.
- Be Careful With Your Wood Pile – If your wood pile is a mess, you’re creating an invitation for ticks. Neatly stack your wood, and make certain the spot where you keep it gets sun on a regular basis.
Don’t let ticks rule your concerns this year. Prevent problems, and if you do notice an infestation, contact professional help immediately.
How Do We Control Ticks?
Tick control is a multipoint process at Ransford. Here are some of the steps:
- To treat the larvae and the nymphs in the Spring, Ransford will use a granular product applied over the leaf litter and around your home.
- Once wet the granules will soak into the leaf litter killing any ticks (and ants) in comes in contact with.
For long term control, Ransford recommends exterior rodent bait stations to reduce the food source the ticks need to survive. Fall is when the adult ticks climb to find a “large host” like a Deer. Late September to October is when Ransford will use a liquid to treat the perimeter foliage for adult ticks. Ransford has both green products and regular insecticides for use on ticks and would be happy to discuss both products.
Do Ticks Live in Wood Piles?
Yes, some ticks do live in wood piles. Ticks love areas such as decomposing leaves, or piles of wood where rodents are also often found. If you want to keep ticks away from your yard, limit the number of dark areas subject to moisture.
Looking Mosquito and Tick Control Near You?
Ransford Pest Control is proud to provide tick and mosquito control services throughout Masschusetts. If you're looking to spend time outdoors without worries of nuisance pests, we're here for you! Here are some of the areas we provide mosquito and tick control services:
