All posts by Mosquito Joe

Have you ever seen an intriguing plant-hopping creature with gray and red wings and black spots and wondered what it was and whether it was threatening? You may have come across the spotted lanternfly. These sightings have become increasingly common in the United States, and many people become nervous when they encounter spotted lanternflies, unsure if they bite or pose other risks. Although native to China, they were first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and are now primarily found throughout the Northeast and the central-eastern part of the United States.

If you have detected some negative attitudes surrounding these creatures and have become curious as to why spotted lanternflies are bad, we have answers. Read on to learn more about whether spotted lanternflies do indeed bite and what potential damage they could cause.

What Are Spotted Lanternflies?

Spotted lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula) are an invasive species of insect originating in parts of Asia, including China, India, and Vietnam. They are commonly known as planthoppers. They are found on a variety of about 70 different species of woody plants and fruit crops, especially grapes.

Spotted lanternflies go through four stages in their life cycle: the egg, nymph, adult, and resting stages. Eggs are laid in masses that resemble grayish-brown mud or putty. Young nymphs emerge and go through metamorphosis stages before full adulthood. Early-stage nymphs are black with white spots, and they eventually develop red patches as they grow. The egg and nymph stages last about six months, starting in January each year.

Adult spotted lanternflies start emerging in June, are about 1 inch long, and have very distinctive markings. Their forewings are grayish with black spots, while their hindwings are red with black spots and a white band near the tips. When at rest, their wings fold tent-like over their bodies, creating a visually striking display. The adult and resting stages usually start in June and last about six months. The entire lifespan of a spotted lanternfly is about one year.

Are Spotted Lanternflies Dangerous?

When it comes to determining if the spotted lanternfly is dangerous, you may be wondering; do spotted lanternflies bite humans? Fortunately, spotted lanternflies do not bite humans or pets. This information will likely bring much relief the next time their spotted wings come into your view.  So, if they don’t bite humans or pets, why are spotted lanternflies bad? Unfortunately, their presence is cause for concern when it comes to plant life.

While spotted lanternflies do not bite us or our furry friends, they are still a significant nuisance to plants, trees, and crops. Their favorite host is the Tree of Heaven, though they will also eat from grapes, other hardwoods, and fruit trees. They pierce the bark of trees and plants to access the sap. This damages the tree or plant and can cause significant damage to agricultural crops.

Also, although we’ve established that spotted lanternflies are not dangerous to humans, and your pets won’t likely be bitten by spotted lanternflies, they should be kept away from them. Animals may be tempted to eat spotted lanternflies, and more research needs to be done to determine if this could cause serious health issues for your pet.

Why Are Spotted Lanternflies Bad?

Spotted lanternflies can be a nuisance to humans due to their swarming behavior and large populations. Their presence in large numbers can create an unpleasant environment, especially in outdoor recreation areas, gardens, or even your own backyard.

Unfortunately, spotted lanternflies can be transported long distances by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses. This can have a significant impact on agriculture and the environment. Spotted lanternflies love to feast on fruit plants and trees. They especially like grape plants. They feed on these plants and weaken them, which reduces the crop yield. This can result in less fruit available for the public to purchase and higher prices for certain produce.

Let’s learn more about what to do when you find a spotted lanternfly.

What to Do When You Find a Spotted Lanternfly

Since first being spotted in Pennsylvania in 2014, spotted lanternflies have migrated to 13 other states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.

When you find a spotted lanternfly, there are likely many more somewhere nearby. When you discover spotted lanternflies in your area, you want to alert your local agricultural department and take immediate action to eliminate the threat to your plants and trees. Spotted lanternflies in the nymph stage can be sprayed with insecticides if you can catch them. Adults are harder to kill on contact and are best left to the professionals. Your local pest control service will have ways to eliminate this invasive pest.

How to Get Rid of Spotted Lanternflies?

Hiring a professional pest control service is the best defense against spotted lanternflies, especially if you find an infestation. However, there are several things you can do ahead of the arrival of a pest control service to help protect your property from spotted lanternflies. These include the following steps:

1. If your property has trees of heaven, remove them. They are the spotted lanternfly’s favorite food source.
2. Be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly egg masses in the winter towards the end of the year. If you spot one, you can scrape it off the tree into a bag. Add sanitizer, seal the bag, and dispose of it.
3. Spray any nymphs or adults found with an insecticidal soap or apple cider vinegar. Do not spray vinegar directly on plants, as it may damage them.
4. Plant milkweed. Spotted lanternflies are drawn to this plant, but it is poisonous to them and kills them.

Contact Mosquito Joe® for Spotted Lanternflies Control Services

You no longer have to panic about what to do when you find a spotted lanternfly. Mosquito Joe is here to help. Our service professionals are experienced in effectively removing all types of flying, biting, and annoying pests. And with work that is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and our own Mosquito Joe guarantee, you sure to be happy with the results. Request a free quote today or call us at 1-855-275-2563.

It’s no secret that dogs are a man’s best friend and have the power to steal their owners’ hearts with every wag of their tail. From little Frenchies in chic sweaters to fat cats cruising in strollers, these furry friends have become the center of their pet parents’ world.

To uncover the depth of love and luxury showered upon pets across the country, we embarked on a sweeping survey, spanning coast to coast. We asked residents about their spending habits for their beloved four-legged friends and sought to find out the cost of owning a pet across different states. Keep reading to discover the lengths to which different states go to pamper their furry companions!

Key Findings

• New York has the most spoiled pets considering their owners spend the most in a year on average on them, about $2,900 on just food, toys, health, and hygiene, respectively.
• Kansas residents are the stingiest with their pets overall. They only spend about $200 a year on average on their pet’s health and just less than that on toys and treats.
• Everything is bigger in Texas, including a pet’s appetite. Texans spend the most on their pet food than any other state at about $1,300 a year.
• Pet lovers in America spend around $1,100 a year on-boarding/pet care.

U.S. States That Spend the Most & Least on Their Pets

Caring for a puppy can be quite an investment. From essential pet needs like food, health, and hygiene (grooming, brushes, etc.) to indulgent luxuries such as toys, treats, and cozy beds, the cost of having a pet can add up quickly.

According to our survey results, New York ($2,913 yearly), Michigan ($2,743 yearly), and Texas ($2,560 yearly) lead the pack as the states that spend the most on their pet on average.

In New York, pet parents spare no expense, with substantial investments in pet food ($1,150 yearly), pet toys (over $630 yearly), and pet grooming (about $525 yearly). New York pets are living in the lap of luxury!

As for the Lone Star State, everything might be bigger in Texas, especially the appetite of its pets. Pet lovers in Texas lead the nation in dog food spending, splurging around $1,297 per year to satisfy their furry friends’ cravings.

On the flip side, Kansas ( $1,247 yearly), Maine ($1,346 yearly), and Ohio ($1,353 yearly) shell out the least amount of money for their furry companion.

In Kansas, penny-pinching is the norm, with an average yearly spend of about $200 on pet health and just a tad less ($199) on their beloved pets’ toys and treats.

The Pet Expense Americans Spend the Most & Least on in a Year

While our beloved pets get to enjoy the luxury of living rent-free, their owners certainly have financial responsibilities to bear. Delving into the pet budget breakdown, we sought to identify the areas where pet lovers allocate the most significant amount of money.

We found that, on average, most Americans dedicate $1,082 each year to ensure their furry companions receive the best pet care possible. From doggy daycares to pet boarding, pet care is an integral part of the pet ownership experience.

When it comes to satisfying their pets’ taste buds, Americans show their affection with an average annual spend of $811 on pet food. Regardless of their size or breed, there’s nothing quite like witnessing the sheer joy in a pup’s eyes at mealtime.

Pet insurance plays a significant role in Americans’ financial planning. With an average yearly investment of $566 in pet insurance, pet parents who choose to be on a plan find solace in knowing that their beloved companions are safeguarded, offering peace of mind amidst life’s uncertainties.

Closing Thoughts

There’s nothing quite like the unconditional love of our pets by our side. Embrace this special bond and ensure your four-legged companions have a worry-free season by protecting them from pesky fleas and ticks with our services.

Say farewell to the nuisance of these pests and protect your furry friend. Don’t wait; schedule with Mosquito Joe event services and make this season a memorable one for you and your fur baby!

Methodology

To find the states that spend the most and least on their pet and which pet expense pet owners spend the most and least on overall, we surveyed residents of all 50 U.S. states in May of 2023 to know how much they spend on each commonly occurring pet expense. It is important to note that some states could not be included in this list due to not enough survey respondents. Those states are AK, HI, MT, ND, SD, VT, and WY. Using the respondents’ answers, we could then calculate the average yearly spend on each pet expense in every state.

In the pet expense section, we focused on pet insurance and pet care and discluded it from the previous section, recognizing that not every pet owner opts for insurance coverage or pet care.

It doesn’t matter if it’s the spring, summer, or fall; when the weather permits and outside temps are reasonable, many of us venture outdoors to relax and have some fun. Whether parents, kids, and the family dog go for a hike, head to the beach, or simply roughhouse and relax in the backyard, it’s essential to be on the lookout for ticks.

These tiny, blood-sucking pests can have an outsized impact on the health and well-being of the entire family. Don’t wait for someone to get bit and possibly be infected with a common tick disease. Prevention is key. It’s time to prepare for tick season.

What You Need To Know About Ticks

There’s a lot to learn about ticks; they can be weirdly, even disgustingly fascinating. For instance, did you know that ticks aren’t insects? Ticks have eight legs and are classified as parasitic arachnids. Adult ticks range in size from that of a poppy seed to an apple seed, and they feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. When engorged with blood, these tiny biters swell from the size of a small seed up to the size of a blueberry!

Because ticks are so small, you are unlikely to feel their bite. But once a tick finds someone to bite, it grasps the skin, cuts a hole in it, inserts its barbed feeding tube, and begins to suck blood. The barbs hold the tick in place while the host moves about. An adult female tick can remain attached to its host, feeding on its blood for seven to ten days, after which it will detach and fall off. After the first 36-48 hours of feeding, a Lyme disease-carrying tick is most likely to transmit the disease bacterium to its host.

Immature ticks, called nymphs, are the most frequent cause of Lyme disease in humans. Measuring just 2 millimeters across, nymphs are very difficult to see. Nymphs are most active feeding during spring and summer, which is often considered tick season.

Ticks generally make their homes in wooded areas with overgrown shrubs, tall grasses, fallen branches, and plenty of leaf litter. They typically rest at the tips of grass and shrubs, waiting to grab onto a passing animal to feed. But ticks are not only found in woods. They are plentiful in the coastal brush and grasses around the beach and can make their home in your backyard. In fact, most humans are bitten by ticks in their own gardens.

When is Tick Season?

Depending on your climate, tick season, or the time when adult ticks are most active, is from early March to mid-May and mid-August to November. However, for the following thirteen states, tick season is year-round:

1. Alabama
2. Arizona
3. California
4. Florida
5. Georgia
6. Louisiana
7. Mississippi
8. Nevada
9. North Carolina
10. Oregon
11. South Carolina
12. Texas
13. Washington

When Does Tick Season End?

Tick season typically ends when temperatures drop below freezing. However, to kill off ticks, the weather must be below 10 degrees Fahrenheit for a sustained number of days. As winters get warmer, tick seasons will last longer, and more people and pets risk getting bitten.

Risks and Symptoms of Tick Bites

Most tick bites are painless, with just a few mild symptoms like redness, swelling, or soreness at the bite. However, some ticks carry and transmit disease-causing bacteria and can lead to Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick-borne relapsing fever, and Tularemia, among others. And even those ticks that don’t transmit disease can have their head or jaws detach from the tick’s body and remain in the host they bite, causing infection. This is why it is critical to learn to remove ticks safely. Of course, because feeding ticks suck blood, bites can lead to anemia.

Unlike most biting insects, ticks bite once and hang on rather than biting in clusters. The more they feed, the larger and more noticeable they become. Harmless tick bites often cause no symptoms or visible signs. Some cause a red bump that looks like a mosquito bite. People who are allergic to tick bites may experience:

• Painful swelling at the bite
• A rash
• A burning sensation
• Blisters
• Shortness of breath in extreme cases

However, not all tick bites are so relatively harmless. Symptoms of tick-borne diseases include:

• Rash at the bite site*
• Full body rash
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Swollen lynch nodes
• A fever spoke around 102 or 103°F
• Abdominal pain

*A Lyme disease rash looks like a bullseye, with a red bump at the center, surrounded by a ring of paler flesh, surrounded by a reddened ring. If you, a family member, or a pet is showing any of these symptoms following a tick bite, seek prompt medical attention.

Preventative Routine to Best Prepare for Tick Season

Although ticks are found in some of our favorite getaway spots, like the woods, mountains, and beaches, most people get bitten by ticks in their own backyard. Ticks hide and breed in unkempt or overgrown vegetation. So, let’s see how to prepare for tick season:

Your property:

• Keep your grass well-mown
• Keep your trees trimmed
• Keep up with the weeding
• Remove leaf litter
• Move swing sets and sandboxes away from shrubs, bushes, and other vegetation
• Discourage deer and other wildlife
• Keep fences and other barriers to wildlife in good repair
• Layer gravel or cedar wood chips between the lawn or garden and any wooded areas
• Don’t over water; ticks are attracted to moisture
• Have professional tick control service spray every month

Your pets:

• Apply a monthly topical flea and tick medication
• Keep bird feeders and bird baths away from pet areas
• Carefully inspect your pet’s body each night
• Give regular baths
• Launder pet bedding and toys

You and your family:

• Avoid tall grass and wooded areas, hiking only in the middle of trails
• Wear lightweight clothing to make it easier to spot ticks on it
• Wear clothing that completely covers you, tucking pant legs into socks when hiking
• Treat boots, hiking wear, and camping gear with permethrin
• Tie back long hair or wear a hat
• Shower after returning indoors, and carefully inspect your body for ticks, paying particular attention to:
  1. Neck
  2. Under arms
  3. Behind ears
  4. Behind knees
  5. Inside elbow joints
  6. Under hair and on the scalp
  7. Inside the belly button
  8. Around the waist
  9. Groin area

When examining yourself, your kids, and your pets, check the same areas, plus the ears, mouth, and between the toes for your pet. If you find one attached, remove the tick safely, and save it for testing should symptoms develop.

Keeping Your Family Safe During Tick Season

While the ways to prepare for tick season may seem burdensome, they are nothing compared to suffering with a tick-borne disease. According to insurance records, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that “approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease every year.”

This accounts only for humans who sought medical care contracting just one of the diseases ticks carry. Don’t let one of your family members, furry or not, become a statistic. Make tick season precautions a regular part of your family’s health care.

Mosquito Joe for Reliable Tick Control Services Near You

Tick season preparations may seem like a heavy lift, but Mosquito Joe is here to help! Not only do we provide effective mosquito control and flea control, but we can also help you rid your property of ticks. Our barrier spray applications target tall grasses, shrubs, plants, and trees where mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks hide and breed. Our professional technicians will tailor our services to meet your property’s specific needs.

As a Neighborly company, we make it our business to become the local experts on the pest issues in neighborhoods across the country. And you can trust that we do our work promptly and efficiently because every visit is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™  and the Mosquito Joe® Satisfaction Guarantee!

Don’t Wait for Tick Season – Contact Us Today!

This tick season, protect your family and secure your property for bite-free fun with Mosquito Joe! Call us today at 1-855-275-2563 or contact us online for a free quote or to schedule professional tick control services. Because you and your family deserve to enjoy summer!

It’s a peaceful summer night and you are slowly drifting off to sleep until you hear it—the obnoxious whine of a mosquito in your ear! It leaves you asking how these pesky mosquitoes got in and, more important, how to get rid of mosquitoes inside your house.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Inside the House

Once you determine that you have mosquitoes inside your home, the first thing you want to do is get rid of them, especially before you turn in for the night.

Consider these options for taking care of mosquitoes that are already in your home:

• Use an indoor insect fogger or insect spray to kill mosquitoes and treat areas where larvae may develop. Mosquitoes will gravitate toward dark, moist places so be sure to check in closets, under the sink, or around the laundry room.
• Purchase mosquito traps and place them around your home, focusing on the areas where mosquitoes are most prevalent.
• Put plants to work! Fill your home with mosquito-repelling herbs such as tulsi, catnip and feverfew.

The best way to keep their intrusion to a minimum is by being proactive and working to keep them out from the start.

Keep Mosquitoes Out of the House

Mosquitoes are effective at finding their way into homes. They actively seek out cracks, gaps, and broken screens. Use these tips to seal up your home and keep mosquitoes where they belong: outside.

• Inspect window and door screens for gaps and holes then either mend the tear or replace the screen.
• Inspect windows for gaps or weathered sealing and shore up these openings with caulk.
• Ensure weather seals on doors do not have any gaps. If they do, replace the seals.

What Type of Mosquitoes Are In Your Home

Have you ever wondered exactly what type of mosquitoes are likely to be flitting around your home? Culex mosquitoes are known as the Common House Mosquito because of their tendency to want to make their way into homes. While other types of mosquitoes may end up in the home, these are the only ones that seek out the indoors.

The best way to keep mosquitoes out of your home is also keeping them out of your yard. Contact us online or call Mosquito Joe today at 1-855-275-2563 so we can make outside fun again for you and your family!

Scuttling sounds in the attic and walls can be unnerving for any homeowner. Chewing marks on packaged foods. And droppings. Yuck! If you’re dealing with a rodent problem and you’re losing the war, let’s explore how to get rid of rodent infestations. Or, better yet, how to prevent rodent infestation so you’ll never be faced with this. You can keep your home protected from these unwanted intruders by taking these nine steps. So read on and learn how to get rid of rodent infestation and how to prevent rodent infestation in your home.

Step 1: Seal Up Entry Points

All animals seek shelter from the weather, predators, and as a place to raise their young. A home that is not properly sealed is like a beacon for rodents and insects with tiny cracks and gaps serving as a “vacancy” sign. Some rodents can squeeze through an opening as tiny as a dime. Figuring out how to prevent rodent infestation at your home starts with identifying entry points and sealing them up. Let rodents know there is “no vacancy” at your home, and they’re not getting in.

Start by doing a thorough inspection of your home’s exterior. Check for cracks in the walls, gaps in windows and doors, and spaces around pipes or vents. Seal these potential entryways with caulk or steel wool secured by caulk to make your home less accessible to critters. Depending on the size of the opening, wood, cement, or material may be needed to properly seal the opening. Not only is this an effective way to get rid of a rodent infestation, but it also keeps a host of other pests outside where they belong.

Step 2: Keep Your Home Clean

Rodents are opportunistic creatures. When they invade your home, they’re not just searching for shelter; they’re also hunting for their next meal. Dirty dishes, accessible trash bins, pet food left out, and crumbs on countertops serve as a free rodent buffet. And who doesn’t like a free meal? Once the word is out, you’ll have a full-blown infestation on your hands. Effective rodent prevention requires shutting down the buffet line. Washing dishes promptly, taking out the trash regularly, and keeping food secured in containers, and storage areas crumb-free denies these freeloaders the free food they crave. Don’t forget cluttered areas like basements and garages provide perfect nesting material, as well as a great place to hide. Remember, a clean home not only sparkles but also keeps rodents at bay.

Step 3: Store Firewood Properly

What looks like an innocent stack of firewood may be a cozy hideout for the local mice and rats. Improperly stored firewood is an open invitation to these pests, who can nestle between pieces and be carried inside with the next load. So, it’s important to learn how to prevent rodents from hitching a ride. Start by storing firewood at least 20 feet away from your home. Cover it with a tarp and keep it raised about a foot off the ground. This also helps the wood dry out, so it is less attractive to rodents and other pests. A well-maintained firewood pile is a small but significant step toward robust rodent prevention.

Step 4: Trim Trees and Shrubs

Overhanging tree branches and lush shrubs around your house can inadvertently become a welcome mat for rodents. These climbing critters can easily use branches as direct routes to your chimney, attic or walls. So, let’s determine how to prevent rodents from making this trek. If you trim trees and shrubs to maintain a 6-foot distance from your house, you’ll disrupt the rodents’ travel plans. They won’t have a direct passageway to your home, and they’ll have no cover, so you can more easily spot any signs of rodent infestation. Your garden is your first line of defense in keeping your home rodent-free. Planting herbs around your garden can serve as a protective wall to keep rodents out of your home. Herbs that emit a strong smell, such as mint (especially peppermint), catnip, rosemary, sage, lavender, oregano, and basil are effective at keeping these unwelcome visitors away from the area.

Step 5: Install Screens on Vents and Chimneys

We rely on vent and chimney openings to maintain healthy air quality in our homes. Unfortunately, they also provide easy access for rodents. Want to know how to get rid of a rodent infestation on your roof? Install screens or caps on your chimney and vent openings! Installing vent screens is pretty simple, but it may require access to your roof. This essential step will support your rodent prevention efforts and stops other unwanted critters from dropping in too. Regularly checking your screens for damage and ensuring they remain securely attached is also an important part of this process.

Step 6: Keep Your Yard Tidy and Clean

Just as an untidy home can attract rodents, so can a cluttered yard. Overgrown foliage, garden waste, scattered birdseed, uncovered pet food, and fallen fruit can create a haven for rodents, leading to a potential rodent infestation. And they can easily venture from the yard to your home. So, how do you get rid of a rodent infestation in your yard? You shut down the smorgasbord by keeping your yard well-maintained. That is a key piece of guidance on how to prevent rodents from venturing into your home.

Regular lawn maintenance, including mowing, pruning, harvesting, and debris removal, can help dissuade rodents from setting up camp in your yard. Make sure to pick up birdseed and cover pet food tightly. When your yard is not providing a feast, rodents will be less likely to descend upon it.

Step 7: Fix Leaks and Moisture Problems

Like us, rodents need water to survive. Even the smallest leak can turn your home or garden into a rodent watering hole. Addressing leaks and moisture problems both inside and outside of your home is a crucial part of how to prevent rodent infestation. Check pipes, faucets, and irrigation systems for leaks to ensure that they are working effectively. It’s also important to keep gutters clean and working properly so water doesn’t accumulate around the exterior of your home. Fixing these issues prevents damage to your home and also removes a key attractant for rodents (mosquitos, too!). Remember, when it comes to rodent prevention, a dry house is far less inviting.

Step 8: Use Natural Deterrents

You can also keep rodents away from your home with natural deterrents. One way is to leverage their strong sense of smell against them. Using scents they find unpleasant Like, cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil or vinegar that are placed near entry points or in areas where you see signs of rodent activity can prove to be very effective. These scents are known to deter rodents, as does cayenne pepper and cloves. Once rodents get a whiff of any of these, they’ll be happy to seek shelter elsewhere.

Step 9: Hire a Pest Control Professional

In the battle against rodent infestation, sometimes the best strategy is calling in the experts. Pest control professionals like Mosquito Joe® utilize in-depth knowledge, experience, and access to professional-grade tools and products to protect your home and property. They offer comprehensive pest control services that not only help in getting rid of an existing infestation but also provide strategies for future rodent prevention.

Your friendly Mosquito Joe pest control expert can show you how to get rid of a rodent infestation effectively and efficiently. So, let us take this unpleasant task off your hands! By identifying and blocking potential entry points and removing attractants, we can protect you and your family from rodent issues. Remember, sometimes the best defense is a good offense.

Don’t Wait — Take Action Today!

Understanding how to get rid of a rodent infestation starts with a proactive plan and consistent execution. Remember, rodents breed quickly, and a small issue can become a large infestation in no time. Begin by inspecting your home for signs of rodent infestation, sealing up potential entry points, and maintaining cleanliness both inside and outside of your home. Don’t allow rodents to make your home theirs.

Finally, for rodent control you can trust, call on the pros at your local Mosquito Joe. The Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and the Mosquito Joe® Satisfaction Guarantee back all our work, so you know you’ll be pleased. Request a free estimate online or give us a call at 1-855-275-2563.

Let Mosquito Joe put an end to your rodent infestation.