Do you know how to identify red fire ants? These pests are stealthy, and they can inflict pain with their bites. It’s important for homeowners to understand what they look like, where they nest and...
Tick & Flea Control in Rio Grande Valley, TX
Texans love their wide open spaces and to enjoy the outdoors, and it's know exception here in the Valley. What we may not always remember is that our outdoor excursions can allow fleas and ticks to hitch a ride on us and our pets and become established in our yards. If you're feeling or seeing the signs of these potential pests on your property, contact ABC Home & Commercial Services. Our pros have effective tick and flea control techniques to put your mind at ease.
When it comes to flea treatment on your property, ABC uses a holistic approach to control these parasites. Our specialists begin by applying treatments to the inside of your home and throughout your yard. Then, we apply targeted, scientifically-proven treatments to your attic and crawl spaces. Because we treat your entire property and it takes the products some time to dry and take effect, our flea treatment approach typically take a few hours to complete. During this time, we ask that our customers and their pets be elsewhere so our treatments can be as effective as possible.
Currently, there are no pest control products on the market that can penetrate flea cocoons, so our technicians use products that contain insect growth regulators. These products prevent fleas from maturing into adults once they have hatched from their eggs. For this reason, we typically schedule a follow-up appointment after our initial service call to ensure that no larvae mature into adults that can continue to reproduce and prolong an infestation.
The ABC Process
1. Contact ABC
When you contact us, we will schedule an inspection to get an understanding of your problem. In some cases, we can give you a quote over the phone.
2. Get An Estimate
If you have an inspection, we will send you a custom treatment plan and estimate afterward. Once we get your approval, we will schedule your treatment.
3. Treatment
We will come to your property and treat for pests in common hiding and nesting areas. Over time, you will start seeing less and less pest activity.
4. Prevention
Customers with our ongoing pest management services will receive periodic retreatments to prevent the return of the most common pests in our area.
Fleas are prolific breeders with some females laying an average of 20 to 30 eggs a day, while others deposit as many as 50 eggs at once. This is why it can sometimes feel like an infestation occurs overnight. While fleas typically lay eggs directly onto our pets, as our pets move around, these eggs can easily be distributed throughout your home and yard. Unfortunately, there are currently no pest control solutions that can penetrate the eggs inside of a cocoon, so effective flea treatments must begin at later life stages.
Another factor that makes flea infestations so challenging is that pupae can lay dormant for up to six months. You may be convinced that your flea problem is over only to realize when these eggs hatch that your past treatment efforts were unsuccessful. Our customers appreciate that our trained technicians implement treatment plans to effectively target these pests throughout different life stages, in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Get Started
We offer a full range of pest control services.
ABC has been providing pest control services to home and business owners for over 70 years. During these decades of experience in the pest control industry, we’ve learned the best and most effective way to target pests and handle pest issues. We strive to hire the best of the best, people you trust and feel safe having in your home. Our hiring process includes a drug test and a criminal background check. Before conducting service calls, our specialists go through an in-house training program to learn about pest behavior and how local conditions can affect pest habits. Also, as a family-run business, one of our values is that we treat our customers’ homes as if they were our own. Feel confident knowing that any team member who arrives at your home will treat you, your family and your property with the utmost respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can you come to treat my problem?
At ABC, we understand that when you and your pets are dealing with itchy flea bites or worried about ticks, you probably want a professional at your home to help as soon as possible. If you have fleas or ticks on your property, get in contact with ABC, and we will schedule an appointment as soon as possible. On occasion, we are even able to provide you with a no-cost estimate over the phone.
What happens during ABC’s initial inspection?
If an inspection makes the most sense to tackle your pest problem, we will schedule your appointment for the earliest available opportunity. During this in-person meeting, you can expect one of our pest control specialists to:
- Ask you questions about what you have been experiencing to get a better understanding of the severity and extent of the infestation
- Examine your property to locate pest hiding and nesting spots and potentially determine whether any wildlife introduced these pests to your property
- Confirm what type of pest is in your home or yard
- Assess your property for any unique factors that could make you vulnerable to an infestation
- Address any of your questions regarding our pest management plans
At the end of our inspection, we will provide you with an estimate for our recommended next steps. With your approval, we will put your first service call on the schedule. Additionally, we will provide you with a list of things to do prior to your first service call, which may include consulting with a veterinarian about flea treatment plans for your pets.
What are some signs that may indicate I have a flea problem?
Many homeowners assume that itchy pets are a clear indication that fleas are present, but there are plenty of reasons why your pets may be itching, including allergies or dermatitis. To make matters more confusing, not all pets have the same reaction to fleas.
If your pet seems more irritated than normal, look for these signs that could point to a flea problem:
- Your pet is licking and biting at its fur excessively
- Bites on you and your family members, specifically around your feet and ankles
- Black or dark brown dots that hop on and off your socks as you walk across carpeted rooms
- Flea excrement, which looks like small black specks, that falls off your pets when you brush them
Fleas breed quickly and can take over an area nearly overnight. Flea problems are best handled by pest control professionals who can halt the spread of these pesky creatures and implement effective flea control measures nearly just as quickly.
Can you help me with ticks?
Yes, ABC’s pest control specialists are fully equipped to handle a tick problem. While ticks don’t necessarily infest homes, these pests are capable of spreading life-altering diseases, such as Lyme disease, making it important to take precautions even if you only spot one tick. When you contact us regarding a tick problem, we will create a custom treatment plan to target these pests and offer you advice on how to make your property less attractive to ticks moving forward. We know ticks can be a scary prospect. We’re here to help!
How many treatments will my home need?
One of the benefits of contacting ABC for flea control is that we typically schedule a follow-up appointment to eliminate any eggs that may have hatched since our initial service call. Depending on the severity and extent of your particular problem, we may recommend additional treatment calls to ensure that we have adequately controlled your resident flea population.
In order to begin our treatment plan, we will confirm with you that you have taken all of the necessary steps on our pre-treatment checklist. Examples of these preparatory tasks include:
- Vacuuming, sweeping and mopping all of your floors
- Mowing your lawn, raking up leaves and performing any other tasks to tidy up your yard
- Minimizing clutter around your home
- Cleaning or replacing pet bedding, based on the advice given to you by your technician
- Bringing your pet or pets to the veterinarian to be put on a flea control regimen
How do fleas enter a home?
The most common way fleas become an issue inside the home is when a pet interacts with another animal that is infested. This close contact allows fleas to hitch a ride home on pet. In other cases, flea problems can develop when wildlife — such as rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, opossums or deer — bring these pests onto your property. Many homeowners are surprised to learn that leaving pet food and water bowls out can attract these creatures to your property, which can eventually lead to a flea infestation. If you don’t own any pets, rodents or other wildlife most likely introduced fleas onto your property.
Can’t I just treat fleas on my own?
While there are flea control products that are available for homeowners to purchase, many are not completely effective. For example, flea bombs often just drive fleas deeper into their hiding spots. Since there are no flea products on the market to target flea eggs, many homeowners end up with recurring flea problems when any eggs deposited develops into an adult.
If your flea problem originates from wildlife on your property, you will not be addressing the root cause of the problem unless you can remove or relocate infested animals that might be in your attic, crawl space, garage or shed. Your ABC specialist can apply effective treatments throughout your property to ensure that you won’t have to worry about these parasites. We can also leave you with tips on how to prevent future infestations.
What impact do the products you use on my property have on my kids, my pets and the environment?
As a family-run business, ABC prioritizes the well-being of your family. When we select our treatment products, we only choose those what we would feel comfortable using in our own homes and yards. Additionally, as part of an initial inspection, your specialist will determine the lowest concentration of chemicals to use in order to be low impact and effective. We believe in transparency, so if you have any other questions or concerns about your treatment plan or the solutions we will use on your property, your specialist would be happy to address them at any time.
Get Started
We can create a treatment plan that targets these pests and give you peace of mind.
More Pest Control Solutions in Rio Grande Valley
Bed Bug Treatment
Bed bug problems can really take an emotional toll on a person. We will create a custom treatment plan to resolve your infestation and get you resting easy again.
Fire Ant Control
Fire ant bites are painful. We'll help protect you and your family from these unwanted pests.
Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes can really negatively impact the enjoyment of your yard and your home. With ABC's approach to mosquito control, you can feel comfortable again.
Pre-construction Termite Control
We can protect new homes with Termimesh termite control. This product is proven effective and safeguards your home from any future termite problems.
Rodent & Wildlife Control
Don't let rodents or wildlife disrupt your life and damage your property. We can create a comprehensive treatment plan to trap and remove all unwanted critters.
Roach Exterminator
Battling roaches on your own can be exhausting and thankless. We can create a treatment plan that targets these pests and gives you peace of mind.
Termite Control
Termites can cause extensive damage to your biggest investment--your home. We use scientifically proven termite control to eliminate the entire colony.
How To Identify Red Fire Ants
Mosquitoes in Texas: What Homeowners Should Know
https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mosquitoes-in-Texas.mp4
Need Pest Control For Your Business?
Businesses and residences have different needs. That’s why we have specially trained technicians who can service your business.
ABC’s Complete List of Home Services in Rio Grande Valley
Why deal with multiple service providers? ABC can do it all.
