Summer is a fun time spent outdoors with friends and family. However, the warm season can also invite insects to your yard such as mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. Although these insects won't cause any damage to your property, they do pose a health threat to you and your family due to the diseases that they sometimes carry.

If you are looking to get rid of an insect problem on your property, it is best to contact a professional pest control company. Pest control experts can identify the type of insect you are dealing with and generate the correct treatment plan. Keep reading below to learn about what to look out for with mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks and how to protect yourself and your family from insect-borne diseases.

Mosquitoes Can Transmit West Nile, EEE & Zika

A mosquito on a hand in West Chester, PA.

Typically, a mosquito bite is a minor irritation that swells up, itches, and fades. However, sometimes mosquitoes can transmit viruses such as the West Nile virus, EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis), Zika, and even canine heartworms.

  • The West Nile virus is a mild infection that is common during the summer. The symptoms include high fever, headaches, muscle pain, vision loss, and disorientation. It can sometimes lead to severe encephalitis.
  • EEE is related to the West Nile Virus and usually emerges during July, August, and September. The symptoms include high fever, headaches, tiredness, stiff neck, nausea, and more.
  • Zika virus is a mild disease that includes mild fever, headaches, eye pain, fatigue, joint pain, and more.

Consult with pest control experts who can provide highly effective treatments to limit the spread of mosquito-borne viruses.

Fleas Can Cause Typhus & Tularemia

Fleas on a potential client's pet in Chester Springs, PA.

Fleas are health hazards to your pets (and to you) because of the diseases they can transfer. Fleas may prefer animal hosts (pets are closer to the ground), but they will attach to humans when animals are unavailable. Fleas multiply rapidly and can cause diseases like Typhus and Tularemia.

  • Typhus (murine) is spread to people through infected fleas. The symptoms include fever, nausea, appetite loss, stomach pain, body aches, and muscle pain.
  • Tularemia (rabbit fever or deer fly fever) is an uncommon infectious disease that includes symptoms such as fever, chills, mouth ulcers, throat pain, diarrhea, and other issues.

Giving your pets a good rinse and bath can help reduce fleas, but it’s best to handle the issue at the source with flea control treatments. Pest control professionals like our team can apply treatments during the peak season to limit the number of fleas on your property.

Ticks Spread Lyme Disease & Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Tick entering someones skin in Downingtown, PA.

Common tick species include deer ticks, American Dog ticks, and lone star ticks - all of which can carry diseases. These diseases include Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

  • Lyme disease symptoms include fever, fatigue, sore throat, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and more.
  • Ehrlichiosis has long-term chronic consequences if left untreated. Its symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, muscle aches, rashes, and more.
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a bacterial infection with symptoms such as spotted rashes, high fever, muscle aches, abdominal pain, and more.

Pest control experts can provide preventive treatments to limit the number of ticks on your property.

Protect your home and loved ones this summer from disease-ridden insects. Call our pest control team today!

Disease-ridden insects are dangerous to any property and household. Keep your pets and family safe from mosquito, flea, and tick infestations by calling our pest control experts. Our team services residential and commercial properties in West Chester, Downingtown, Exton, and neighboring areas in Pennsylvania. Call us today at (610) 285-9727 to schedule!