Understanding The Tick Life Cycle

It’s important to understand the life cycle of a tick and where they lay their eggs so you can help prevent a tick infestation in your yard. Did you know that a female tick can lay up to several thousand eggs at a time? Not only are ticks a nuisance, but they also cause numerous diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

The tick goes through four separate stages if its life cycle: eggs, larva, nymph and adult. Each of these stages can easily be recognized by its special appearance.

The Life Cycle of a Tick

Stage 1: Eggs
After feeding through some of the winter months and spring, adult females will lay their eggs in protected areas of grass. They can lay over a thousand eggs in their lifetime, and the eggs will normally hatch by summer.

Stage 2: Larvae
Once hatched, the larvae begin searching for a host to feed on. They wait on the tops of leaves and tall grass where pet and human activity are normally high.

Stage 3: Nymph
Once the larvae have eaten, they will drop off the host and transform into an eight-legged nymph. The process will then repeat itself where they look for a host. The nymph may also transmit disease.

Stage 4: Adult
Adult ticks will then go for a third quest, looking for a larger host. Successful adult ticks reproduce during the fall, and the female tick will survive through winter to lay more eggs in the spring. This entire process can take up to three years.

What Does a Tick Nest Look Like?

Unlike other social insects such as ants and bees, ticks do not form a communal colony like a hive or nest. Ticks are more likely to crawl into the burrow or hole of a potential host and lay their eggs there, creating a small, lone “nest.” This provides immediate access to a potential host to which the larvae can latch to and feed upon. Ticks may also opt to lay eggs in leaf litter or grassy areas and, in general, any location that is soft and warm.

What Do Tick Eggs Look Like?

Since a female tick is capable of laying thousands of eggs at once, these eggs are often easier to spot than the ticks themselves. They appear brownish-red in color and are translucent. A brood of eggs may look like miniature caviar. The eggs are not yet infectious and can be dealt with by simply coating with salt to dry out the eggs.

How to Prevent Tick Eggs and Tick Bites In Your Yard

  • Know where ticks hide. Ticks live in tall grass and wooded areas. Hunting, gardening or spending time in your backyard are all activities where you, your family and your pets could pick up ticks.
  • Dress to avoid ticks. Wearing long sleeves and long pants, tucking socks into boots and wearing light-colored clothing can help prevent tick bites.
  • Utilize Mosquito Joe barrier treatments as an added layer of defense. Regular barrier treatments from Mosquito Joe eliminate ticks and give you and your family peace of mind.

Don’t Be Ticked Off This Season

To add an extra layer of defense against your outdoor space, contact your local Mosquito Joe today to enjoy a bite-free yard! We have special services that add against ticks and other pests, so let us help you protect yourself and your family throughout the year.

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What Are the Best Essential Oils to Repel Ticks?

Whether you are spending time in the great outdoors or simply playing fetch with your furry friend in the backyard, we know that nothing ruins outdoor fun like unwelcomed pests; especially ticks in your lawn. Protecting your family from ticks is important because not only are they are a nuisance, they can also pose serious health risks, such as Lyme disease.

If you are looking for a more natural way to incorporate tick prevention in your outdoor spaces, essential oils are a great alternative. Naturally derived, essential oils can be applied to clothing or directly on the skin to help keep irritating ticks at bay. If you aren’t sure which ones to use or how to best apply them, the list below will help guide you on how to use essential oil for ticks.

What Are the Best Essential Oils to Repel Ticks?         

While essential oils are often not as potent as their chemical-based alternatives, they can be effective in providing a second layer of tick control. Here are few essential oils that have tick-repelling properties:

Eucalyptus

  • A pleasant-smelling oil, eucalyptus can be used to repel ticks and pests. Be sure to dilute with a carrier oil or purchase a spray solution that has already been thinned with water. Due to the potency, use sparingly with pets or select a different repellent if you’re using it around furry friends.

Cedarwood

  • Toxic to ticks and their larvae, cedarwood is a prime choice for a tick repellent. Combined with the fact that it is safe to apply to people and pets alike, this is one of the best options for essential oil repellent.

Garlic

  • Useful beyond seasoning a savory dish, garlic can be easily transformed into a tick deterrent. Mince garlic, mix with mineral oil, allow to soak overnight, and then put in a spray bottle. This simple mixture can be sprayed directly on skin, pets, or even on plants to keep ticks away.

Geranium

  • This oil can be a potent and effective tick repellent and is OK to apply to the skin or on your dog’s collar to deter ticks.

Lavender

  • Versatile and virulent to insects, lavender can be a fantastic addition to the arsenal. This essential oil is safe for topical use on all ages, including infants, and is lethal to ticks and their eggs.

Pennyroyal

  • A powerful member of the mint family, this can serve as a great tick deterrent. Pennyroyal is best applied under cushions, rugs, and fabrics in the home as a preventative measure should pets bring ticks into the home. It should not be used on the skin or on pets.

Did you know that Mosquito Joe also provides natural treatment options for your yard? Our natural treatments are an alternative to our traditional synthetic barrier treatment. There are several spray options,  garlic repellent treatment, and two variations of essential oil solutions which include peppermint,  rosemary, and lemongrass essential oils. Similar to our traditional treatment, trained technicians use a backpack sprayer in order to apply the natural formulas to the foliage on your property. , Your property will be treated on a 14-21 day cycle, depending on which natural solution you choose, to provide effective outdoor pest control. You can learn more about our natural treatment options here.

If your yard is still being overrun with ticks, it may be time to contact a professional tick exterminator.  Call Mosquito Joe today at 1-855-275-2563 to explore tick control options near your location or contact us online and kick the ticks for good this season!

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Where Do Mosquitoes Live?

With warm weather right around the corner, mosquitoes are quick to follow. When you start to feel the itchiness from the first mosquito bite of the season, the first thought that comes to mind is, “Where are all of these mosquitoes coming from?!” The pest experts of Mosquito Joe are here to answer where these pesky pests live and how you can decrease their population in your yard.

Where Do Mosquitoes Live?

While it may seem that mosquitoes occupy your backyard and eardrums alone, mosquitoes actually live in different environments throughout their lifecycle. These environments include standing water (ponds, puddles, wetlands), tall grass, hollow logs, and under leaf litter.

Mosquito Eggs

In the early stages of their life, mosquitoes are aquatic. Eggs could be laid in flood areas, standing water, or damp soil, but water must be present for the eggs to hatch. This is the reason that eliminating standing water from your yard is an effective measure for decreasing mosquitoes.

Mosquito Larva & Pupa

Mosquito larvae spend their entire lives developing in water and feeding on microorganisms, algae, and so on. Once a mosquito larva has molted four times, it develops into the pupa stage, which is also aquatic. From here, the adult mosquito emerges from its casing, dries its wings, and takes flight.

As you can see, water plays an extremely important role in mosquitoes making their way from eggs to adults.

Adult Mosquitoes

Once mosquitoes become full-fledged adults they begin breeding, often within 28 hours of emerging from pupal stage. Females require a blood meal to mate successfully. When they are not out for blood or breeding, adult mosquitoes rest in tall grass; inside logs, hollow trees or stumps; or under leaf litter.

Mosquito Nest: Is It Real?

As you may have noticed, none of these mosquito life stages describe what we might think of as a nest. Mosquitoes are not social insects such as bees or ants, so they will not form a familial or collective nest. Unfortunately, that means removing mosquitoes from your yard is a little trickier than simply finding their nest and decimating it, no matter how satisfying that would be.

How To Decrease Their Population In Your Yard

Mosquito Joe is here to rid your yard of any mosquitoes that are ruining your outdoor fun. Here are some measures you can take to make sure mosquitoes aren’t bugging you:

  • Regularly empty ponds, bird baths, fountains, buckets, kids toys and anything else that may gather water.
  • Drill holes in tire swings, trash cans and recycle bins so stagnant water cannot accumulate.
  • Cut grass and shrubs short – adult mosquitoes gather to rest in shady areas.
  • Clean out gutters to avoid standing water.
  • Repair leaky outdoor faucets.
  • Let Mosquito Joe be your second line of defense by getting a barrier treatment that protects your yard from mosquitoes, ticks and fleas

 

If it feels like the mosquitoes in your yard never take a break, it’s time to take a stand! Call the pros at Mosquito Joe today at 1-855-275-2563 or contact us online and make the backyard yours again!

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What Plants Keep Mosquitoes Away?

The whine of a mosquito in your ear is a nettlesome annoyance to your back-porch nap. You’ve tried lighting citronella candles and dabbled with insect repellent devices—but is there a more natural way to keep the mosquitoes at bay? 

We bet you didn’t know that you can use plants to mitigate mosquitoes! Some naturally deter insects and can contribute to a pest-free backyard. So, what plants keep mosquitoes away? Where should they be situated to thrive, and should they be planted or potted? 

Let the insect experts at Mosquito Joe shed some light on what plants help keep mosquitoes away. 

What Kind of Plants Keep Mosquitoes Away?

While no single plant is a pest panacea, these florae all contain some form of mosquito repellent property. To help deter mosquitoes from your yard, you can plant the following plants: 

Basil

  • Fragrant and fresh basil can be more than a bright herb in bruschetta. Mosquitoes are not fond of basil, so you can create a barrier around any standing water on your property to discourage any mosquito egg-laying. Basil flourishes in full sun, well-drained soil, and a large pot allowing airflow between plants.  

Bee Balm

  • Also known as wild bergamot, bee balm has the twofold benefit of deterring mosquitoes and inviting desirable pollinators like bees and butterflies. Make sure you allow for full sun and soil that allows drainage. 

Catnip

  • Felines are drawn by the naturally occurring chemical nepetalactone that catnip produces. It is this same cat-alluring compound that keeps mosquitoes away and makes it one of the most effective plants for mosquito control. However, if you do have cats, this might not be the best option for you. Catnip can grow in full sun or partial shade and does better with well-drained soil. Keep it in its own pot, if you don’t want it to grow freely in your garden, where it can become a bit invasive. 

Citronella

  • A familiar ingredient in mosquito-repellent candles, the plant itself produces a strong scent that overwhelms other mosquito attractants. Situate in full sun or partial shade and plant in large planters or let it thrive in a garden. 

Lavender

  • The soothing scent of fresh lavender also serves to rebuff mosquitoes. Opt for a large pot or let it flourish in the garden if you have the available space. (Lavender can swell to a sizeable bush.) Keep in sunlight. 

Lemon Balm 

  • This lovely decorative plant can be used for more than just décor. Place around your patio space to ward off mosquito intrusion. Situate in full sun and keep potted as it can overrun a garden if planted. 

Lemongrass

  • This plant contains citral, a natural oil that is used in mosquito repellents, and it serves well as an organic deterrent. Grow in a large pot with ample drainage and leave in full sun.  

Marigold

  • Pleasant in color and full in fragrance, marigolds work delightfully well to edge a garden and to repel mosquitoes. These flowering plants contain the compound pyrethrum, which is used in insect repellents. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. 

Peppermint

  • Crisp and bright in scent, peppermint is also natural mosquito repellent. Like other members of the mint family, this plant can invade a garden if let loose. Situate in a planter in the full sun with damp soil. 

 

The right plants can be a beneficial ally in the fight for a pest-free backyard. To add to this second line of defense, call Mosquito Joe today to spray a barrier treatment on your property to rid mosquitoes, ticks and fleas from your property. Give us a call at 1-855-275-2563 or contact us online so we can make outside fun again for you and your family. 

Ready to tackle a larger landscaping project? Explore these outdoor landscaping ideas from The Grounds Guys, a fellow member of the Neighborly® family of home service brands

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