The Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted lanternflies have become a major problem in New Jersey in recent years, causing significant damage to plants and crops and becoming a general nuisance to homeowners. If you are dealing with spotted lanternflies on your property, Total Home Pest Control is here to help. This blog post covers everything you need to know about spotted lanternflies in NJ, including identification, behavior, risks, and control methods.

Identifying Spotted Lanternflies is easy due to their unique appearance. They have black bodies with white spots and brownish-gray wings with black spots. Their egg masses look like a coating of mud. If you spot these pests on your property, take immediate action to prevent an infestation.

Spotted lanternflies are native to Asia and were first discovered in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, they have spread rapidly throughout the Northeast, including New Jersey. These pests are known for their voracious appetite and feed on the sap of trees, which can weaken and even kill them over time. They also lay their eggs on trees, which can further exacerbate the problem. Spotted lanternflies are most active from late spring to early fall and are commonly found in wooded areas and on farms.

The biggest risk associated with spotted lanternflies is their potential to cause significant damage to trees and crops. This can lead to economic losses for farmers and property owners. Additionally, the sticky residue that spotted lanternflies excrete can attract other pests like ants, wasps, and bees. Spotted lanternflies are also a hitchhiking bug that could easily be transported to other states and become an even bigger problem in the future.

Several control methods can be used to manage spotted lanternfly populations, including physical removal, which is the easiest way to control them. Total Home Pest Control offers specialized spotted lanternfly treatments for residential and commercial properties. The Total Home team consists of professionally trained and licensed Spotted Lanternfly experts that perform an in-depth inspection of your property and create a spotted lanternfly control program specifically for your residential or commercial property.

Total Home Pest Control offers a specialized treatment specifically for spotted lanternflies, including knockdown services and liquid treatments in New Jersey. Their spotted lanternfly treatment is specially formulated to prevent harming non-target wildlife like squirrels and birds. Contact Total Home Pest Control for more information about their spotted lanternfly service plan and to see what is available in your area.

Spotted lanternflies are a serious problem in NJ, but with the right knowledge and tools, they can be managed effectively. Total Home Pest Control offers a range of pest control services, including targeted treatments for spotted lanternflies. Contact them today to schedule an appointment and protect your property from these invasive pests. Contact us today to set up an inspection, 732-938-3232 www.totalhomepest.com

Tick Prevention Tips: Keep Your Home and Pets Safe

Ticks are a common problem for pets and humans alike, especially during warmer months. Not only do they cause discomfort, but they can also spread diseases. Therefore, it is essential to take measures to prevent ticks from entering your home and harming your pets. In this article, we will share some valuable tips that will help you keep your home and pets safe from ticks.

Understanding Ticks

Before we dive into the prevention tips, let’s take a closer look at ticks. Ticks are small, blood-sucking parasites that attach themselves to animals and humans. They are commonly found in grassy areas, wooded regions, and gardens. Ticks are known to carry diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis. These diseases can cause severe health problems for both pets and humans, making tick prevention essential.

Tick Prevention Tips

There are several ways to prevent ticks from entering your home and harming your pets. Here are some tips:

Keep your lawn trimmed
Ticks love to hide in tall grass, so it’s essential to keep your lawn trimmed. Regularly mow your lawn to keep the grass short, making it less inviting for ticks.

Use tick repellent on your pets
One of the most effective ways to prevent ticks from harming your pets is by using tick repellent. Several types of tick repellent are available, including collars, sprays, and spot-on treatments. Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to find the best option for your pet.

Check your pets regularly
Even if you use tick repellent, it’s still essential to check your pets regularly for ticks. Look for ticks on their fur, especially in hard-to-reach areas such as under their legs and ears. If you find a tick, use tweezers to remove it, being careful not to leave any parts of the tick behind.

Create a tick-free zone
Consider creating a tick-free zone in your yard by using wood chips or gravel around play areas and outdoor seating. Ticks don’t like the dry, open areas, so this will help reduce the number of ticks in your yard.

If you want to take further measures to protect your home and pets from ticks, consider hiring a professional tick control service like Last Bite Mosquito and Tick Control. Their experienced technicians use safe and effective methods to eliminate ticks from your property, giving you peace of mind. Contact Last Bite Mosquito and Tick Control today to schedule your tick control service.

By following these tips, you can help prevent ticks from entering your home and harming your pets. It’s essential to take measures to protect your pets and family from tick-borne diseases. Keep your lawn trimmed, use tick repellent on your pets, check your pets regularly, create a tick-free zone, and use a tick preventative on your home. With these measures in place, you can enjoy your time outdoors without worrying about ticks.

Spring Is Finally Here

Spring is finally here, and with it comes the start of mosquito and tick season. These pests can be a major annoyance, buzzing around your yard and leaving itchy bites on your skin. But they can also pose a real danger, transmitting diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

If you want to enjoy your outdoor space without the threat of these pests, here are some tips to help protect your property:

1. Eliminate standing water: Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so it’s important to remove any sources of stagnant water in your yard. This includes things like birdbaths, flower pots, and clogged gutters.

2. Keep your yard tidy: Ticks like to hide in tall grass and overgrown shrubs, so keeping your yard trimmed and tidy can help reduce their numbers. You can also create a barrier between your lawn and wooded areas by clearing a 3-foot wide path.

3. Use insect repellent: If you’re going to be spending time outside, be sure to use an insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. These ingredients have been shown to be effective against both mosquitoes and ticks.

4. Install screens: Make sure all of your windows and doors have screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.

5. Call Last Bite Mosquito and Tick Control for added protection, consider taking advantage of our Early Bird Special and SAVE $100 on our 2023 Mosquito and Tick Control service. Our team of experts can treat your property to eliminate existing pests and create a barrier to keep new ones from entering. We use environmentally-friendly products that are safe for your family and pets and offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

Don’t let mosquitoes and ticks ruin your spring and summer. Take steps to protect your property and call Last Bite Mosquito for mosquito and tick control. And don’t forget, for all your general pest control needs, you can always call our sister company Total Home Pest Control, 732-938-3232. Both companies have won awards for their amazing customer service and have 5-star reviews from satisfied customers.

Stay safe and enjoy your time outside without worrying about mosquito and tick control. Buy now and save with our early bird special!

Let Us Help With Your Holiday Gift Giving!

It’s snow joke … the promise of Spring’s arrival is enough to get anyone through the winter. Shower your friends and family with the gift of backyard fun!

Last Bite Mosquito makes a terrific holiday gift. If we can help you finish your holiday gift giving, please call 732-338-0808 or email us at support@lastbitemosquito.com.

And for all your general pest control needs, our sister company Total Home Pest Control is available year-round to help with those unwanted pests.  Please let us know if you would like to schedule a free inspection with one of our licensed technicians. We are always here to help.

From our family to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy and pest free holiday season.

Your friends at Last Bite Mosquito

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Tick Tick Boom – Possible Vaccination for Lyme Disease

A new vaccine developed by Yale University researchers has developed a vaccine that offers protection against Lyme disease. Tests have been proven in Guinea Pigs. Whether it works in humans remains to be seen.

Black-legged ticks (Deer Ticks) transmit Lyme disease to about 40,000 people in the U.S. each year, but those are only the cases we know about. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that number is actually 8 – 10x higher than reported.

The vaccine is delivered by the same mRNA technology that has proved so effective against COVID-19.

“The vaccine enhances the ability to recognize a tick bite, partially turning a tick bite into a mosquito bite,” Fikrig said. “When you feel a mosquito bite, you swat it. With the vaccine, there is redness and likely an itch so you can recognize that you have been bitten and can pull the tick off quickly, before it has the ability to transmit Lyme disease.

Researchers did note a caveat in their findings: In similar experiments, mice, which are unable to acquire natural tick resistance after infection, were not protected against Lyme disease after vaccination. In fact, in contrast to guinea pigs, mice are a natural reservoir for Black Legged ticks, suggesting that ticks may have evolved to develop ways to specifically feed repeatedly on mice. Another possibility may be that guinea pig skin, like human skin, is more layered than the skin of mice. Fikrig said there still needs to be more studies to discover ways proteins in saliva can prevent infection. Ultimately, human trials would need to be conducted to test its efficacy in people.

Yale’s Andaleeb Sajid, Jaqueline Matias, and Gunjan Arora are co-first authors of the research. Weissman at UPenn is also a co-author. The research was primarily funded by the Cohen Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

Hot Spots for Ticks on Your Pets

Ever seen a tick on your dog or cat? Most likely, you’ve seen at least one tick crawling on you or your pet.

Where do you find ticks on your furbabies? Here are a few of the most common places to find ticks on your beloved animals!

Places Ticks like to Hide on your Pet

There are common places you can look for ticks on your pets! However,every once in a while you may find a tick in odd places.

It is important to look over your animals if they live outdoors or have been playing outside (in your yard, while hiking, etc.). Why is this? From personal experience, and witnessing this happen on animals that spend a lot of time outdoors, it is easy to miss a tick. Most people may not even notice a tick until it has become bloated with your pet’s blood. You know, the green, squishy looking ticks..

The earlier you detect or remove a tick, the better! Ticks carry many diseases that may harm not only you, but your pets!

Finding Ticks on your Dogs and Cats

It is always best to look through your pet’s fur to check for ticks. Of course, awareness of these pests is key to provide your pet with a successful removal and/or prevention. However, here are a few common areas that you may want to check first.
1. Their ears.
○ Check behind, under and on top of the ears.
2. Behind their front legs (armpits)
○ This area can become moist, a perfect place for a tick to nestle.
3. Groin area.
○ This may not be a place you think a tick will be, but double check this area.
Of course, do a thorough check on your dog or cat for ticks. They can be anywhere and these are only a few of the places they could be hiding on your pet! Visit the CDC website for more information or talk with your veterinarian.

Higher a professional

Make sure to hire a licensed and insured professional like Last Bite Mosquito and Tick Control to protect your property from dangerous ticks.

Tick Activity this Fall and what to Look For

Fall is a wonderful season for many reasons. Apple cider, orchards, sweater weather… less pests bugging you outside! But what about ticks? Where do they go in the fall? Adult ticks are actually most active in the fall! Learn how to protect yourself against disease-carrying ticks during fall months.

Are Ticks Still Active in the Fall?
The short answer: yes. Ticks remain a threat all year long. The blacklegged deer tick becomes especially active during the fall months due to its lifecycle. Protect yourself from the tell-tale tingle of tiny legs on your skin as well as tick-borne illnesses by learning more about these pesky pests.

How Do Ticks Survive the cold?
You may think of ticks as insects, but ticks are hearty and stubborn little arachnids that have more in common with spiders than beetles. To understand how a tick survives all-year-long, including fall and winter, let’s look at their lifecycle.

Ticks live approximately two years and have four distinct phases of life:
● Eggs. Adult females lay their eggs in the spring. Despite their size, one female can lay thousands of eggs. These reddish-brown translucent eggs can be spotted in any warm, soft place outside or inside. Eliminating these nests is one way to reduce the population.

● Larva. Tick eggs hatch into tiny larvae during the summer. These eager and hard-to-spot predators are hungry for their first blood meal. They wait and attach to small animals like mice. Larvae do not carry diseases at the time of hatching but may acquire them if they feed on an infected animal. Once they feed, they are ready to begin the next phase.

● Nymph. Larvae molt into nymphs in the fall and spring months. Nymphs are especially active in spring when they seek their next blood meal. A nymph will feed 4-5 days on animals or humans. If it carries Lyme or other diseases, a nymph could infect the host.

● Adult. A well-fed nymph drops off its host and grows to a full-grown adult in fall. These adults are ready for their third and final feeding. A female tick gorges herself to acquire the proteins necessary to produce and lay eggs. The male tick dies shortly after mating and the female dies once her eggs are laid. The final push to reproduce by the adult tick during fall makes it an especially active time.

When temperatures drop below 45°F, ticks in any stage become dormant. To survive, they latch onto a warm host or burrow into the ground or leaf litter where they become insulated by snow over winter. Much like a bear, their systems slow down until the weather is warm again. Even after a hard frost, if the weather becomes warm, ticks will become active until the temperatures drop again.

What Are the Common Types of Fall Ticks?
There are three main types of ticks to be concerned with in the Midwest:

● The American dog tick is more commonly known as the wood tick. These ticks prefer open grassy areas without a lot of tree cover. They are most active in the summer months, but the nymphs can be found in September. They do not carry Lyme disease but can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

● The lone star tick is named for the distinct white dot on the female’s back. This variety is more common in the south but can be found in the Midwest. While they may carry Lyme, they aren’t able to transmit it. They are a more aggressive species of tick and are active during fall months.

● Blacklegged ticks or deer ticks are the most dangerous variety you should be concerned with. They are carriers and transmitters of Lyme disease and the tiny nymphs are often difficult to spot. These ticks are active in fall months and even on warm winter days when the temperature is above 45 degrees.

How Do I Protect Against Ticks?
When you are out in wooded or grassy areas, protect yourself with these simple precautions:

● Wear light colored clothing that makes ticks easy to spot.

● Tuck pants into socks to prevent skin access.

● Treat clothes with Picaridin, a proven tick repellent that soaks into your garments.

● Apply DEET or other repellent to your skin and clothes.

● Treat dogs with a pet-friendly tick preventative and check them frequently.

● Check yourself frequently.

What Do I Do If I Get a Tick Bite?
Check yourself frequently for ticks. To transmit Lyme disease, an infected tick needs to be attached for 24-48 hours.

If you find a tick burrowed into your skin, remove the entire tick, including the head using your fingers or a tweezer as close to the bite as possible. Clean the affected area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol and watch for signs of rash or infection.

If you experience any of these symptoms over the next week, contact your doctor.

· Headache

· Rash

· Aches

· Fever

If you feel sick, make sure to tell your doctor about the bite. Tick-borne illnesses can become serious if not treated early on and may have life-long repercussions.

Your Tick Prevention Experts
If you’re worried about tick prevention, contact Last Bite today. One of our friendly mosquito and tick specialists can inspect your grounds and suggest the best preventative to keep ticks away in fall and all year round.

THE ONLY GOOD TICK IS A DEAD TICK!

Ticks are not just a spring and summer problem, folks! In fact, some of the more dangerous tick species like the blacklegged (deer) tick are very active during this time of year, using the warmer-than-usual temperatures and ample leaf litter to hide out and plot their attack.
Right now, ticks across the country are gearing up for a blood meal, which is required for them to stay alive and keep their clock ticking before winter hits, as they can remain active at any time of year when the temperature is above freezing. Don’t let your property or body be a hunting ground along the way!
How To Avoid Tick Bites
• Wear closed-toe shoes and long-sleeved clothing
• Tuck your pants into your socks. You’ll look a bit ridiculous, but it works!
• Wear light coloured clothing to help you spot potential ticks easier
• Wash yourself as soon as you get home to get rid of any loose ticks
• Do a full body check on yourself, your kids, or your pets if you’ve come back from a tick prone area
How To Prepare Your Property
• Keep tall grasses mowed and keep vegetation trimmed
• Get rid of any leaf litter or weeds at the edge of your lawn
• Remove brush and leaves around stone walls or wood piles
• Move wood piles away from the house
• Start to rake when leaves eventually fall
• Keep your pets and kids out of the woods to avoid bringing ticks back to your home
• Move kids swings or sandboxes away from the woodland edge
• Wash clothes in hot water if you’ve just come back from a tick-ridden area
The best way to avoid tick bites and prepare your property is to use a professional tick control service like Last Bite Mosquito and Tick Control to eliminate the risk of ticks.
866-742-4887
www.LastBiteMosquito.com

New Jerseys Homeowners Guide To Tick Prevention

Learn About Mosquito Breeding Grounds To Control The Mosquitoes In Your Yard

Where Mosquitoes Breed

We all want to keep mosquitoes out of our yards. But it’s possible that you are actually inviting them in without realizing it. If you are making some simple mistakes you could be creating ideal conditions for mosquitoes. That’s why it’s important to learn about mosquito breeding grounds to control the mosquitoes in your yard. Once you’ve learned to recognize these hotspots, you’re well on your way to a mosquito-free yard.

There are two main mosquito breeding grounds that are very prevalent but slip under the radar screen of a lot of homeowners. They are stagnant water and unkept grounds. Both of these environments are havens for mosquitoes, so eliminating them is vital for effective mosquito control.

The good thing about eliminating mosquito-friendly conditions in your yard is that mosquitoes don’t tend to fly very far. Most mosquitoes won’t fly more than a few hundreds yard from where they hatched in their whole lifetime. This means that eliminating mosquito breeding grounds from your yard can be very effective, as it is unlikely you’ll be getting a lot of mosquitoes coming from elsewhere.

Mosquito control is largely in your hands. If you learn about these mosquito-friendly conditions and take action, you’re going to benefit from being proactive in controlling mosquitoes in your house and yard. Of course, eliminating mosquito breeding grounds is never 100% effective. That’s because mosquitoes are very persistent and can lay their eggs in even a tiny pool of stagnant water. So if you want 100% mosquito protection, Last Bite Mosquito Control is your best solution.

Eliminate Stagnant Water

Mosquitoes require stagnant water in order to breed. This means that minimizing, if not totally eliminating, standing water can go a long way in eradicating mosquitoes.  New Jersey residents create all kinds of areas for water to collect, something that provides mosquitoes with a breeding ground. For instance, a 6-inch-diameter container with a half inch of water is enough for them to reproduce. It is advisable to tip any item containing stagnant water, such as dog bowls, plant saucers, or bird baths.

Sometimes homeowners themselves are to blame for creating mosquito habitats close to their homes. If a resident’s yard is full of unneeded items that are holding water, they should be discarded. A good example is old tires that are well-known for holding stagnant water, and which provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes. If they cannot be discarded, holes can be drilled at their bottom to allow water to drain out.

Take a look around your yard for anything that could hold water. Good places to look are in yard furniture, play structures, buckets, wheelbarrows, and around hose spigots and gutter downspouts. Anywhere that water gathers is a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. Even fallen leaves can hold enough water to become a mosquito nursery, so keep your yard clean and keep leaves raked.

If you have items that hold water but cannot be discarded, such as children’s toys, wading pools, buckets and basins, flip them over when you’re not using them. In case of water that you don’t want to drain, such as rain barrels, fish ponds, or fountains, mosquito dunks can be used to kill mosquito larvae. Dunks are small disks that, when dropped into standing water, release a toxin that kills mosquito larvae only. The toxin causes no harm to birds, fish, or any other animals.

Keep Your Yard Well Manicured

Trees and other plants found near homes offer housing and shade for mosquitoes. Organic materials such as leaves provide them with everything they need to survive and breed. Well manicured lawns with brush trimmed backs do away with areas that mosquitoes can use as habitats. Additionally, cleaning gutters in a way that water can drain freely is recommended.

During the day, mosquitoes prefer resting in protected sites. Yards that have lots of shrubs, trees and dense vegetation provide mosquitoes somewhere to hide. Simply mowing your grass and cutting back hedges can eliminate mosquito hiding spots. Properties adjoining brushy areas, forests, or stagnant water such as a slow moving creek, are at particular risk. Hence, removal of overgrowth and tall weeds from your own yard is an essential part of mosquito removal.

Knowing About Mosquito Breeding Grounds Isn’t Enough

Unfortunately, being proactive yourself in mosquito control is only half the battle. In addition to being vigilant against stagnant water and unkept grounds, it’s vital to make an investment in professional mosquito control.  New Jersey is a hotbed of mosquito activity from Spring to early Fall. If you want to enjoy your yard and relax outdoors, you need to have the pros come out and spray for mosquitoes on a regular basis.  Learn more aboutLast Bite Mosquito so you know what to expect from professional mosquito control services.

Ten Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Tick-Borne Illness

Ten Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Tick-Borne Illness

1. Ticks are most active from the late spring to the early fall.
2. Ticks can attach to any part of the body, but prefer hidden locations such as the groin, behind the ears, between the toes, armpits and the scalp.
3. Most cases of Lyme disease are caused by immature ticks, called nymphs, which are about the size of a poppy seed. Because they are difficult to see, they are often not discovered. Adult ticks can also cause Lyme disease, but they are easier to spot and remove.
4. In most cases, a tick must be attached to the host for more than 36-hours to transmit Lyme disease, which is why it is important to check your body for ticks after being outdoors.
5. Most tick-borne illnesses occur in the eastern United States.

6. If a pregnant woman develops Lyme disease, there is a risk of a placental infection, resulting in a possible stillbirth. Pregnant women should avoid areas where ticks may be found, such as the woods, and take preventative steps to limit the chance of a tick bite.

7. Humans cannot develop Lyme disease from eating venison. However, meat should always be cooked fully to reduce the risk of other illnesses.

8. Not all ticks can transmit Lyme disease and not all tick bites will develop a tick-borne illness.

9. The CDC estimates that 300,000 people will develop Lyme disease each year, and that number will continue to rise.

10. While dogs and cats can get Lyme disease from a tick bite, it is not contagious and they cannot infect their human families

 

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