Flea & Tick Identification & Prevention

What Are Fleas and Ticks?

Fleas are small, wingless insects that are typically 1-3 mm in length and have flattened bodies. They are reddish-brown and capable of jumping long distances. Fleas commonly infest pets such
as dogs and cats, but they can also bite humans. Signs of infestation include pets scratching excessively, flea dirt (tiny black specks of flea feces), and visible fleas on pets, carpets, or furniture. Flea larvae are white, worm-like, and often found in dark, humid areas. Early identification and prompt treatment are key to controlling infestations

Ticks are small arachnids that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. They are well-known for transmitting serious diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. Ticks are generally found in wooded, grassy, and shaded areas where they can easily attach to a passing host. They go through multiple life stages—larva, nymph, and adult—each requiring a blood meal to progress. Due to their potential for spreading disease and their persistence in outdoor areas, tick control and personal protection are important, particularly in regions with high tick populations.

Are Fleas and Ticks Dangerous?

Both fleas and ticks are capable of transmitting diseases, with ticks being the bigger risk. Ticks spread many diseases that make people ill, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever. While fleas are capable of spreading some disease in the U.S., it isn’t a huge concern. The most likely result of being bitten by fleas is a red itchy rash. Fleas bites are itchy, and excessive scratching at the rash site can lead to impetigo and other secondary infections. Pets with a heavy infestation of fleas and ticks can develop anemia and become very ill. Protecting your pets from these parasites is not only essential for their health but also helps to keep fleas and ticks out of your home.

Common Fleas in the Henry County and Surrounding Areas:

• Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis): The most common type of flea found on domestic cats
  and dogs. They can also bite humans and other animals.
• Dog Flea (Ctenocephalides canis): Similar to the cat flea, but less common. They primarily
  infest dogs but can also aMect other animals and humans.
• Human Flea (Pulex irritans): A less common species that primarily feeds on humans, but it
  can also infest animals like pigs and dogs

Common Ticks in the Henry County and Surrounding Areas:

• American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
  Appearance: Brown with white or gray markings. Active Seasons: Spring to early summer.
  Diseases: Can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
• Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)
  Appearance: Reddish-brown; females have a distinctive white "star" on their back. Active Seasons: Early spring through late fall.
  Diseases: Can transmit ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and STARI (Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness). Associated with red meat allergy (alpha-gal syndrome).
• Blacklegged Tick AKA Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis)
  Appearance: Dark brown to black; smaller than other ticks. Active Seasons: Year-round, with peak activity in spring and fall.
  Diseases: Can transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
• Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)
  Appearance: Reddish-brown, found mostly on dogs. Active Seasons: Year-round, especially in warm environments.
  Diseases: Can transmit canine ehrlichiosis and canine babesiosis.
• Gulf Coast Tick (Amblyomma maculatum)
  Appearance: Brown with silvery-white markings. Active Seasons: Late spring to early fall.
   Diseases: Can transmit Rickettsia parkeri, a type of spotted fever.

Why Do I Have a Flea and Tick Problem?

While it is true that fleas and ticks love to feed on our pets’ blood, you don’t have to be a pet owner to experience problems with these pests. Fleas and ticks are most often introduced onto our properties by wild animals. When they live in your outdoor space, it's easy for you or your kids to come into contact with them and bring them indoors, or they can get inside by hitching a ride on the back of a rodent or other small animal.

The flea and tick’s small size and ability to hide in the fur of animals or clothing makes these pests easy to overlook. Oftentimes, it isn’t until a large infestation has developed that homeowners begin to notice a problem with these pests.

Where Will I Find Fleas and Ticks?

Fleas and ticks thrive in hot weather, making spring and summer in Henry County the perfect place for these pests to flourish. Almost any outdoor space in our region, including our yards, can become infested with fleas and ticks. Outside, new adult fleas wait for a host to come by that they can jump onto in areas of damp soil found under leaf piles, woodpiles, and mulch. Fleas that have moved into our homes can establish large populations very quickly and, when not on a host, hide in upholstered furniture, rugs, bedding, and behind baseboards.

Ticks are mainly outdoor pests that crawl to the top of grass, weeds, and other vegetation to wait for a host that they can crawl onto to pass by. Fields, parks, wooded paths, fence lines, and ditches are common places to come into contact with ticks. Brown dog ticks are one of the few species able to complete their life cycle indoors and can become a problem in any home or indoor space. Both fleas and ticks spend most of their lives on the backs of their animal hosts. Adults fleas typically have one host that they live, feed, and breed on while ticks have a four-stage life cycle and seek out a new host at each life stage.

How Do I Get Rid of Fleas and Ticks?

At Jerry's Pest Management, we understand how stressful it can be to have fleas and ticks living in your yard and home. The best way to protect your family from these biting pests is to contact us as soon as you notice their presence, or better yet, before they even become problem! Our trained professionals will come to your property and provide a thorough inspection and effective treatments. You can trust that we will rid your property of fleas and ticks. To explore more about working with us to remove fleas and ticks from your Henry County property, reach out to Jerry's Pest Management today!

How Can I Prevent Fleas and Ticks in the Future?

In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, protect your property from fleas and ticks with the following prevention tips:

• Reduce wild animal activity on your property by keeping lids on trash cans, removing bird feeders, and eliminating yard clutter.
• Use a fence to keep your pets in your yard and your neighbor’s pets out.
• Place pets on a year-round flea and tick preventative under the guidance of their veterinarian.
• Maintain your yard by keeping the grass cut short and regularly cutting back shrubbery.
• Remove brush, leaf piles, and other harborage sites from your yard.
• Repair holes in your home’s exterior that could allow rodents inside.
• Vacuum your home regularly.

Why Choose Jerry's Pest Management for control of Fleas and Ticks?

• Over 40 years of trusted service in Henry County and surrounding areas.
• Safe, family-friendly treatment options.
• Experienced, professional technicians who care about your comfort and peace of mind.

Let Jerry's Pest Management help you reclaim your space. Call us today to schedule your Flea and Tick treatment! Experience the difference that family dedication and decades of experience can make. 

At Jerry's Pest Management, we’re here for you — because protecting your home and business is our family tradition.