Texas climate is a perfect place for yard fleas and pest control mistakes.
There has been an increasing number of warning signs about fleas spreading diseases across Texas. Texas provides a perfect environment for fleas because these bothersome pests favor warm and humid surroundings.
Why Are Yard Fleas a Significant Danger To Your Health?
The greatest discomfort that we think about is their bite and the intense itching. Yard fleas bites can be usually found around the feet, ankles, and lower legs.
They can travel from yard to home. Their capacity to jump 150 times their own height makes them fast travelers, and they can use shoes and picnic blankets to reach you.
However, this insect is more dangerous. Yard fleas carry and transmit the following disease:
- Bubonic plague
- Murine typhus
- Tungiansis
- Tularemia
- Parasitic tapeworms
Even though they sound so exotic and rare, they can spread easily and fast.
For example, murine typhus is transmitted by rat fleas and cat fleas. Humans are usually infected as a result of dried feces and crushed bodies of the fleas contamination.
Tapeworms called Dipylidium caninum infect humans too. Here is a cycle of infection. From flea to pet to human.
Dipylidium caninum has many common names, including the “flea tapeworm,” “cucumber tapeworm,” and “double-pored tapeworm”.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/dipylidium/biology.html
What happens when you get tapeworms?
The head attaches to the wall of your intestines. It feeds by using the food that you ingest and keeps growing new segments.
Pest control cost suddenly doesn’t look such a significant investment when you see that possibility of a warm in your intestine.
So How do Fleas Look Like?
Fleas are often confused with ticks. You can see the difference between them.
Preventive Pest control in Houston, Texas, can be a challenging task because, in this area, you can have both of them. Pest control costs can grow if you continue waiting and hunting for DIY solutions.
How to Tell if You have Flea Infestation in Your Backyard?
Houston and all Texas are perfect areas for fleas. Why? Because of the climate.
Most likely, you have fleas in your yard. But if you still want to perform a test, it is best to call a local pest control company in Houston, Texas.
Another test option is white socks. Simply, put on a white sock, and slowly walk around your yard.
Make sure that you go around:
- dog and other pet houses.
- Under and around trees,
- Under and around bushes
- Near fences,
- under the porch,
- around decks and patios
- below shrubs,
- Areas where leaf debris was collected
Fleas prefer warm and humid areas. Look where is the least sun in your yard.
Remember to move slow and take some time. Then you shine a flashlight on your socks to inspect for live fleas.
Are You at Risk of Flea Infestations if You Own a Yard in Houston, Texas?
Yes, especially if you own a pet. Or your neighbor has a dog or cat which comes to your yard often.
Is there a Seasonal Trend with Flea Infestation?
The problem is that fleas are all year round in Texas.
This colorful map demonstrates how Texans are in an unhappy range of territories.
We are in constant war with these pests.
So What are Your Options?
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Do It Yourself (DIY) Flea Control
Do it yourself pest control? That’s what most of us think about. We sit for hours and search:
- Yard treatment for fleas
- Spraying yard with dawn for fleas
- homemade flea killer for yard
People try everything and anything to prove that they can handle yard flea problems.
But they forget that your time wasted is used by fleas to spread further and cause more damage.
Experiments start with the most common and widely available tools. For example, diatomaceous earth is very often used as a safe and organic compound. It kills crawling insects such as ants, spiders, and fleas. However, it’s not active when mixed with water. So, make sure that it won’t be raining in the next few days. If it rains, you will need to reapply the solution.
A lot of users believe that it’s unharmful and don’t take any precautions. However, exposure to diatomaceous earth often causes dizziness. If a considerable amount is inhaled, people cough and have shortness of breath. It can cause skin irritation and dryness. So, better, be careful.
Another common question that we receive is Will bleach kill fleas in the yard? Yes, it will. But with fleas, all your grass and friendly bugs that feed it will be gone too.
What are the Risks of Pest Control and Fighting Yard Fleas on Your Own?
Pest control is not a hobby and should be performed by professionals. Insecticides are dangerous and pose permanent damage risks to your health.
Before grabbing a fast solution
You risk:
- Your health
- Your family health
- Your pets’ health
- Your resources
- Time and give a chance for a more extensive infestation
- Environmental damage
Texas is already exposed to dangerous pesticides. You need to educate yourself before experimenting with DIY techniques for pest control.
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Nematodes – Environmentally Friendly Yard Flea Pest Control
Nematodes have become a popular option for yard fleas control. Still, you need to know about them before trying to
What are Nematodes?
They are roundworms. The naked eye can’t see these microscopic organisms. We know that they are the most abundant multicellular animals on earth. Scientists still discover new nematodes, but we know there are over 15000 species identified today.
How Do Nematodes Work For Flea Control?
Most nematodes feed on fungi, bacteria, protozoans, other nematodes, or other microscopic creatures.
Nematodes kill fleas by releasing bacteria in them. The bacteria multiply in the flea’s body and eventually kill them via blood poisoning.
There are different types of nematodes. Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes (SC) are most effective against flea larvae. The nematodes aggressively hunt and kill fleas while they are still in the soil as larvae and pupae. It makes nematodes more effective than chemicals. It won’t take a long time to kill fleas with nematodes. They are sold in powder form. Once nematodes are the soil, up to 90% of the larvae can be killed in the first 24 hours.
What Are The Risks Of Using Nematodes?
Nematodes are parasites. They aren’t harmful at all to larger animals kept as pets, or humans. In fact, they are safe for people, pets, plants, and beneficial insects.
There is no environmental damage risk. The only uncomfortable truth is that if you can’t assess the size of infestation – nematodes might still be the wrong solution for you.
There is also a problem with keeping them alive. Storage is crucial to ensure that the nematodes will remain active.
You might not see results even after reapplication. Then you should seek local pest control in Texas. It happens that you might be applying the nematodes, not in the right places. Another common mistake made is applying organisms are already inactive or dead.
That’s why the third option could be the safest.
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Local Pest Control Company For Yard Fleas And Other Pest Control
Flea Exterminators in Houston
If you are searching for flea exterminators in Houston, Texas, then insect control companies have many options to offer you.
A professional exterminator is trained to deal with flea infestations. They can identify the source of the outbreak, get rid of the fleas, and advise you on how to avoid future infestations.
Flea exterminators in Houston are busy. Local bug exterminator prices are friendly because there is fierce competition.
Best Pest Control in Houston
Rodent control very often is required too. Fleas also travel via rodents. Only professional preventive pest control could make sure that all risks are addressed.
We make sure to eliminate any rodent infestation sites such as overgrown trees.
Other Important Aspects Of Pest Control
How to keep neighbors fleas out of my yard?
This question bothers a lot of customers. If the neighbor is not taking care of his yard responsibly, then there is a big chance that your yard will get infested too.
What to do after you had a full treatment on your side?
The best advice is to fix holes or broken pieces in your fence through which neighbors’ pets may be entering your yard.
What are the preventive pest control options in Houston?
There are many myths around the practical methods that repel fleas. One of them is flea repelling plants. Many think that repellent can kill fleas.
Unfortunately, they just repel them from the area that they are grown.
After you have used professional pest control help for fleas, you can start protecting your areas from newcomers.
The following plants are especially useful:
- Mint. It is a multi-tasker, which repels fleas, mosquitoes, spiders, and ants.
- Rosemary. Is often mentioned as one of the most potent repellents.
- Oregano.
- Lavender. It repels mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and moths.
- Basil. Repels fleas, mosquitoes, and houseflies.
- Marigold
- Lemongrass. It repels fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.
- Fleawort
- Lemon Balm
- Sage
- Eucalyptus
- Chrysanthemum
- Rue
You see, there are some excellent multi-taskers that you could use in your yard.
Where are the Best Places to Grow Flea Repellent Plants?
First, start with your pet wonder places. Prioritize keeping fleas off your pets. That’s why you’ll want to add flea-repelling plants to the outdoor areas that your pets frequent most.
HOWEVER – never put the following toxic plants in easy reach of animals and pets.
- Eucalyptus
- Fleawort
- Rue
- Sweet Bay
- Tansy
- Pennyroyal/Fleabane
- Wormwood
Then think about keeping fleas from coming inside the house, for this dress up the front porch and back patio with flea-repelling plants. Other areas to take into consideration are around windows and around the house foundation.
The plants are an organic way of fighting the problem. We recommend our clients the best flea repellents. The market is filled with products that are either not effective or are of lower quality than expected.
Practice smart lawn care. Always be vigilant and remember that the longer you wait, the harder is the solution.
Takeaways
- Fleas move fast and are hard to kill.
- They are the danger to both humans and pets
- Texas is the area where they live all year round.
- Multi-action plan – flea extermination with professional help, taking care of the yard, using plant repellents is always the best strategy.
Commercial Pest Control and Flea Exterminator in Houston
Commercial pest control is easy to reach. Zodega provides commercial pest and flea extermination services in Houston, which includes handling flea infestations around offices. To learn more about our pest control services, contact us today!