Houston Pest Exterminator: Tick & Flea Control

The Importance of Tick & Flea Control

The most common way fleas come indoors is by hitching a ride on our pets. Infestations frequently occur after a trip to the dog park, bringing these tiny pests back to your property and into your living areas. In other cases, other types of rodents or wildlife around your home can introduce fleas and ticks. This can happen when a pet owner leaves out food and water for a dog or cat, and other animals help themselves without the homeowner realizing it. Not only is this frustrating, but it’s also potentially dangerous, considering that fleas and ticks carry harmful diseases.

What’s the difference between a flea and a tick?

• Fleas are much smaller than ticks which can make them difficult to spot. They are tiny insects with brown bodies and attach themselves to animals to feed on their blood.
• Flea bites are typically much smaller and may appear in a line or small cluster of red bumps.
• Ticks are much bigger and have 8 legs instead of 6. They live predominantly outdoors and latch onto their host as they brush past. Ticks can be red, brown, yellow, gray, or black. As they eat, a tick’s body will grow significantly in size. Once they’re satisfied, a tick will unlatch and wait for the next host.
• Tick bites often have a bullseye appearance since they attach themselves to the host by digging their head into the host’s skin. 

At ABC, we pride ourselves on caring for your home as if it were our own. Whether you suspect a flea infestation or a tick problem, we are happy to help. Contact us for a free, no-obligation flea and tick extermination consultation. 

Signs of a Flea Problem

When homeowners notice their pets scratching more frequently, they may begin to suspect a flea problem. However, there are several other reasons your pets may be more itchy than usual, including allergies or dermatitis. Plus, not all dogs and pets scratch when they have fleas.

If you do notice your pet seeming more irritated, look for these other indications that you may need a flea exterminator:

• Pets licking and biting their fur excessively
• Bites around the ankles and feet of human members of your household
• Blackish brown dots that appear and then disappear on your socks as you walk along a carpeted surface
• Black specks, which are flea waste products, fall off your pets as you brush them

Due to how quickly a flea problem can turn into a full-blown infestation, the best course of action is to promptly call in a flea exterminator who can advise you on the next steps.

What to expect at your initial visit

At ABC, our flea exterminators use a holistic approach to address infestations. We start by treating the inside of your home and your yard and then apply scientifically-proven solutions in your attic and crawl spaces. Since our technicians need a few hours to treat your property thoroughly and for the products to dry, we ask that our customers and their pets be away from home during these service calls.

You can expect your ABC tick control professional to:

• Ask you questions about your pest problem to get a better idea of the severity of the issue
• Conduct an initial assessment of your property to understand where fleas ticks might be and any wildlife that may have introduced these pests onto your property.
• If necessary, confirm which pests are on your property
• Determine if there are any unique factors that make your home more susceptible to an infestation
• Allow you to ask us any questions you have about ABC’s pest protocol or our treatment options
• Provide you with an estimate, then, with your approval, treat your home

Since these treatment solutions cannot penetrate flea cocoons, ABC technicians use products that contain an insect growth regulator so that any flea eggs that do hatch won’t fully develop into adults. For that reason, we usually schedule a follow-up appointment after the initial treatment to ensure these treatments have effectively halted the reproductive cycle. Get started today with a free estimate.

Fleas are prolific breeders. Females lay between 20 and 50 eggs a day, which explains why infestations can sometimes seem to appear out of nowhere. Our flea exterminators and tick control services generally include a follow-up appointment to eliminate any eggs that might have hatched after our initial service call.

With over 60 years of experience in the tick control industry, serving homes across Texas and Florida, ABC knows the best way to target and eliminate pests from homes and businesses. Before performing service calls, all ABC pest control specialists go through an extensive in-house training program to understand the behavior of different pests and how to properly eradicate them.