How to Get Rid of Fleas

Dealing with fleas in the Texas Hill County can be a chore because they thrive in the humid environment.  Here in Canyon Lake and the surrounding areas what we lack in deer ticks we more than make up for with fleas.  Here is the short and simple way to get rid of fleas in your home.

Identification

Adult fleas are about 1/8” long, oval shaped, and reddish or brownish color.  They are very smooth which allows them to move through the fur or feathers of their host.  They feed on the blood of the host and then lay eggs, 25-40 per day.  These eggs will eventually hatch 2-5 days later then go through 3 larval stages and a pupal stage.  Eventually they will become adult fleas in about 2 weeks.  Flea dirt is their droppings that you will find on pets, which looks similar to ground pepper, but is actually dried blood and fecal matter from the fleas feeding on pets.

Pet Treatments

The absolute most important aspect of flea control is to have the animals treated with products that kill fleas, preferably before they bite the animal.  Some products on the market no longer work due to the fleas becoming resistant to the ingredients.  Ask your veterinarian which products work the best for your animal.  If the products work and kill the adult fleas before they lay eggs, that is  super important in stopping the reproduction cycle.  Even with proper treatments, you will sometimes have another emergence of adult fleas after 2-3 weeks, which come from flea eggs that are still hatching.

Sanitation

Vacuuming is the single most effective, easiest way to gain control of a flea infestation quickly.  Vacuuming removes flea eggs and flea dirt as well as agitating floors to cause fleas to hatch and get sucked up by the vacuum cleaner.  We always have people start vacuuming daily before we arrive to do a flea treatment and it helps speed the process tremendously.  Just be sure the empty the contents away from the house so fleas don’t hatch inside the vacuum and then crawl back out!

Bathing the pets will also help wash fleas down the drain and rid them of the allergic reaction-causing flea dirt that will irritate their skin.  Flea bite dermatitis is a very uncomfortable condition for the pet, causing severe itching, hair loss, and even some animals pulling their hair out to get to the fleas. Bathe with a safe flea bath product or dish soap that will coat the fleas.

Also wash any bedding where the pet sleeps or spends the majority of time.  If animals sleep on the bed then wash sheets as often as possible until the situation is improved.  Washing eliminates flea eggs much the same way vacuuming does, except they go down the drain.

Flea Treatments

Flea traps, which have a small nightlight with a glue trap underneath it are very effective at catching adult fleas that are left after vacuuming.  You can also make your own with a nightlight and small bowl of dish soap and water to drown fleas as they jump towards the warm light, thinking it is a host animal.  They are fairly effective and a good monitoring device.

The most effective and fastest flea-killing insecticides contain permethrin, imidicloprid, and dinotefuran.  They should also contain an insect grown regulator (IGR), methoprene or pyriproxyfen, that disrupts the flea egg/larval development and preventing future generations from being able to develop and survive.

Aerosols are easier to use than liquid concentrates and dry faster.  All bedding, fabrics, carpets, rugs, and cushions should be treated.  Flip couch cushions and treat both sides as well as the cracks around the cushions.  Anywhere an animal rests there will be flea eggs that drop off the animal when it scratches.

Foggers or bug bombs are not recommended since they concentrate the chemical up into the air above the can and not down in the carpet fibers where the fleas and larva spend most of their time.

Yard Treatments

Yard treatments may be necessary, especially if there are wild animals that walk the premises.  Deer, squirrels, possums, cats, dogs, skunks, raccoons, and most other mammals can be infested with fleas.  Those flea eggs will drop off the animal and hatch in your yard, then get on your pets. Yard treatments aren’t always necessary but sometimes help gain control of a heavy infestation.  Fresh animal carcasses can also be heavily infested with fleas, as well as sick or dying wild animals. 

Professional pest control experts will have equipment and proper products to treat your house, yard, crawlspace and other problem areas.  Plus we know what products work and what doesn’t! 

Be sure to check out our other posts if you need information about controlling other pests!

Give us a call if you need help with a flea problem, or have questions about products or treatments.  We have lot of resources and have pets of our own so we can guide you into having a flea-free home!

As a resident of the Texas Hill Country you should be familiar with the basic variety of potentially dangerous pests that are native to the area. Here are the 4 most dangerous spiders in the Canyon Lake / Bulverde area:

Brown Recluse

The brown recluse is the most common spider that can cause harm in Texas and the Southern United States.  It is a light tan or brown and identified by the violin-shaped marking on its head and thorax.  They prefer dark, undisturbed areas like closets, attics, basements etc.  They will also hide in piles of clothes and under furniture.

Their venom causes necrosis (tissue death) in severe cases.  The bite will start as a small blister and develop into a painful ulcer.

Black Widow

Black widow spiders have a neurotoxin venom affecting the immune system causing pain, muscle cramps, nausea and sweating. Although dangerous they are rarely fatal with proper medical treatment.  They are shiny black with a red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen.  Seeing one in person is actually fairly rare because they stay in dark, undisturbed areas like garages, wood piles, water main boxes.  As a professional pest control operator I have only seen 2 live black widows in all my years doing pest control.

Wolf Spider

Wolf spiders are generally not dangerous to humans but their bite can cause an allergic reaction and/or swelling and redness.  They are more active hunters and do not spin webs to catch food.  They are usually fairly large, hairy, and brown, gray or black colored.  They will hide in grass, logs, and yard debris like leaves and piles of mulch.

Brown Widow

Brown widows are similar in size and shape to the black widow but usually tan colored with the same red markings on the abdomen.  It will have banded markings on the legs and some of them will be nearly black.  They are known as cobweb spiders with their irregular webs.  They have egg sacs one cm in diameter and known for their spiky appearance.  Their natural predators are mud daubers.  Bites are not as serious as a black widow, causing fever, muscle cramps, abdominal pain, weakness in legs and difficulty walking.

As much attention and fear that spiders invoke, serious reactions are not very common.  Even in one instance where hundreds of brown recluse spiders were found in a home, the residents had no complaints of bites. 

Most spiders do not have strong enough mouthparts to even puncture human skin. Proper identification needs to be made when assessing skin irritation or possible bites.

As always, contact us if you have questions or when you’re ready to schedule pest control service!

Even if you are terrified of spiders, know that they are not out to get you! Spiders play an important role in the ecosystems around your residence. Spiders that are not venomous should be left in place if possible because they contribute to biological control (i.e. eating other insects). If you are determined to get rid of them here are some tips and tricks to control populations.

Spiders are difficult to control because they hang out in dark, cluttered areas away from predators and  humans.  Places like closets, garages, attics, wall voids and under furniture are prime habitats for 8-legged arachnids to live.

Inspections & Monitoring

A proper inspection is needed to determine the species and numbers of active spiders in a home.  Check in the corners of closets, around light fixtures, under cabinets, inside cabinets, behind or inside boxes in garages, around electrical outlets, as well as around vegetation on the outside of the foundation.  I tend to find the most spiders around light fixtures that stay on all night and in garages where there is plentiful prey for spiders.

Natural Control Methods

Glue boards, also called sticky traps, are a great way to monitor activity and find problem areas.  This will help to properly identify which species are the problem as well as reduce other pest populations that go in the traps too!  Removing and brushing away webs will also help reduce populations and irritate them so they will hopefully move on to another nesting area.  Keeping bushes and trees trimmed away from the house a few feet will also help reduce harborage locations for spiders and other insects and also eliminate direct pathways for bugs to enter your house.

Filling in weep holes with mesh products like copper, stainless steel, or steel wool help keep eliminate entry points.  Sealing plumbing and air conditioning pipe penetrations will help with other problem insects as well as spiders.  Removing clutter and keeping storage items in tightly sealed containers take away dark habitats that spiders enjoy.

The most effective control measure I have found at my own house is switching to amber light bulbs on any lights that stay on at night.  With newer LED bulbs in modern homes the insects are attracted to them at night and spiders spin webs where those lights are to catch prey.  Switching to the amber or yellow bulbs makes a tremendous difference.  Turning off all lights at night is recommended, but not always practical.  Closing blinds at night will also help.

Natural Predators

Spiders are prey to lizards, birds, toads, frogs, and other spiders. Although it would be difficult to rely solely on natural predators to gain control of spider populations, creating a habitat that is hospitable for these predators will help the spider populations decrease slightly.  The frogs will also help with mosquito control.

Chemical Control

I can say that after many years in pest control around Canyon Lake, Bulverde and Spring Branch, we can achieve about 80% or so reduction in spider populations with just a general pest control treatment alone, without doing a whole lot of extra exclusion or deep cleaning.  Using a good residual concentrate designed for spiders along with proper use of dust products in voids and attics can greatly reduce the spider numbers as long as the service is maintained.

With the homeowner adding in some weep hole sealing, sealing gaps and cracks, de-cluttering, and other housekeeping measures, spiders can really become a non-issue.

Contact us today if you have questions or you’re ready to schedule pest control service!

Mosquitoes can be a significant nuisance in the Texas hill country, making spending a time in your yard an awful experience. With proper preparation and management however, you can minimize their impact.

Preparation

Start by removing standing water around your property since mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Empty containers, fix any leaks, and ensure proper drainage. Keeping your yard well-maintained by trimming vegetation and mowing the lawn reduces mosquito resting places. Installing screens on windows and doors is essential to keep mosquitoes out of your home. Additionally, applying EPA-approved mosquito repellents to exposed skin and clothing can help protect you from bites.

Dealing with Mosquitoes

Using mosquito traps in areas with high mosquito activity can significantly reduce their numbers. Encouraging natural predators like bats and birds by providing suitable habitats is another effective strategy. Treat any standing water that cannot be removed with larvicides to kill mosquito larvae before they mature. When outdoors, especially during peak mosquito hours at dawn and dusk, wearing long sleeves and pants provides an extra layer of protection.

Professional Help

If mosquito problems persist despite your best efforts, consider hiring professional pest control services. Professionals can offer comprehensive solutions, including targeted treatments and ongoing maintenance, to help manage mosquito populations effectively.

By taking these proactive steps, you can reduce the mosquito population around your home, making your environment more comfortable and safer during the mosquito season in South Texas.

No matter how clean and well-maintained your home may be, pests have a knack for finding their way inside. New Braunfels residents can face pest invasions from fire ants, spiders, scorpions and more.

Understanding how these unwelcome guests make their way into your living spaces is crucial for effective pest prevention and maintaining a healthy environment. Here’s a breakdown of the common entry points and reasons pests might be turning your home into their new habitat.

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The Texas Hill Country, with its rugged landscapes and warm climate, is a prime habitat for various wildlife, including the Striped Bark Scorpion, which is the most common species found in Texas. Understanding where these scorpions come from, their potential dangers, and how to effectively keep them out of your home is essential for living comfortably and safely in this region.

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The Texas Hill Country, with its warm climate and abundant wildlife, provides an ideal environment for fleas to thrive. These tiny pests are not just a nuisance; they can pose serious health risks to pets and humans alike. Understanding flea behavior, how to prevent infestations, and effective control measures are crucial for residents of this region.

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