Biting Back at Bugs that Bite

Almost everyone is freaked out by biting bugs, and with good reason. Biting bugs represent not only a nuisance, but also a hazard to you and your family’s health, including your pets. When serious illnesses such as West Nile Virus could be a result of a bug infestation, equally serious pest control is necessary.

While some bugs, like spiders, bite out of self-defense, bugs like mosquitos, fleas, and bed bugs bite because you are their next meal. Here are the basics on these biting home invaders so you can recognize them quickly and call a pest control specialist to restore your home to a healthy state.

Carpet Beetles

Carpet beetles are exactly what they sound like – beetles that lay eggs in fibrous materials such as carpeting and upholstery because it’s food for their offspring. They are sometimes confused with bed bugs because they can also live in your mattress and sheets. The main difference is that carpet beetles don’t bite, but they can leave a rash on your skin.

Fleas

Without proper flea control, pet dogs or cats can bring fleas into the home and cause an infestation. According to Pest World, fleas can “live for about 100 days, during which time the females produce 400-500 offspring.” These eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults infest your pet as well as your upholstery and rugs. They can transmit tapeworms and bacterial infections, and their infestation can quickly get out of control when early signs are inadequately managed.

Mosquitoes

If your home is infested with mosquitoes, you most likely either live near standing water such as a pond or have an undiscovered plumbing issue. Even a birdbath or puddles in the yard can produce a large amount of mosquitoes. Unfortunately, mosquitoes leave annoyingly itchy bites and can potentially carry West Nile Virus, so eliminating them is essential.

Spiders

The dark, cluttered, undisturbed spaces of any home naturally attract spiders. They come into your home through cracks and gaps when the weather cools, or when you bring in firewood from outdoors. They then lay eggs that can hatch hundreds of spiders. Spiders range from harmless residents to venomous threats that should be eliminated.

Bed Bugs

With bed bugs on the rise, every homeowner fears an infestation. Bedbugs hitchhike into your home from hotels, movie theaters, buses, and doctor’s offices – basically anywhere with upholstery. Mattresses, bed frames, and headboards are some of their favorite hiding places, and as such, they have easy access to people. Allergic reactions to their bites can be severe, and secondary infections can arise from scratching their itchy bites. Bed bug removal must be done by a pest control specialist to ensure eradication.

Biting Back

These bugs should never be tolerated in your home. One call to Ecola at 1 (800) 332-BUGS (2847) is all it takes to be on your way to a bug-free and healthy home.