Ouch! If you’ve spent any time in your yard with biting insects, you know they’re a real pain—literally! All you want to do is be able to enjoy some relaxation time with your friends or family (or maybe even alone) and you suddenly find yourself swatting and slapping at a bunch of pesky pests.
We feel your pain both literally and metaphorically. And we’re not sure what hurts more—the bite, the slap, or our pride when we let these little buggers get the best of us.
But the truth is, there is legitimate cause for concern with biting yard bugs as some of these pests can actually transmit disease—and that’s a pretty big deal. Fortunately, there are solutions that will give you the opportunity to reclaim your outdoor spaces at your home in the Memphis TN or Northern MS area.
There are certainly a number of biting pests out there but you don’t necessarily have to be concerned about all of them. Some bugs are more common than others in our region and some pose more of a threat.
The biting bugs that are on most homeowners’ minds are mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and fire ants. These specific pests are most likely to be found in your yard and most likely to pose problems.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these pests.
If we’re going to get technical, then mosquitoes are not backyard bugs that bite—they are backyard bugs that suck. And more specifically, female mosquitoes suck using a long, piercing mouthpiece. Female mosquitoes need the protein and iron from a blood meal to grow eggs.
Besides the fact that mosquito bites are a nuisance (they hurt and itch), mosquitoes have also been known to transmit deadly viruses like West Nile or Zika.
Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of dogs, cats, and yes, sometimes even humans. Flea bites are itchy and painful and can occasionally be dangerous. Some people have proven to be allergic to flea bites and have allergic reactions. Fleas can also potentially transmit disease, though the cases of this occurring have been relatively rare in the United States.
Oftentimes, a flea problem is spotted when you see your pet scratching. But you might also see fleas hopping on your drapery, carpet, or furniture once they’ve hitched a ride into your home via your pet.
Ticks are a blood-feeding external parasite that are found throughout the world. The most common types of ticks found in Memphis, TN and Northern MS are the Brown Dog Tick and the Rocky Mountain Tick. Both types of ticks have been known to carry and transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Ticks like to hide out and are generally found in wooded areas, in tall grass, or in thick vegetation. But they can be brought onto any property when they hitch a ride via a wild animal they may have bitten such as mice, squirrels, or deer.
Fire ants are a dark, reddish-brown type of ant that most people in Memphis and Northern MS are familiar with due to their prevalence in the region. Though their color suggests the origin of their name, many say that fire ants actually earned their name due to the fire-like burning that is experienced by one of their stings. That’s right—fire ants are not technically biting yard bugs, they are stinging ones! And their sting contains alkaloid venom, which is highly irritating to humans and can cause white pustules and red bumps.
What’s perhaps most alarming is that fire ants have been known to attack in large numbers. If you are perceived as a threat to the ant colony, you could experience hundreds of stings or more!
When it comes to being free of the worries of mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and fire ants, you deserve a solution that will work.
At Master Lawn, we have 3 different programs that can cover these services, based upon your needs.
Of the various pests lurking about your yard, we understand that mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and fire ants are among some of the most dreaded. Nobody wants to think about getting bit or stung, particularly by pests that have been known to transmit disease.
Fortunately, there are ways to take back control and to reclaim your outdoor space!
With the right approach to outdoor pest control, you can ensure these biting yard bugs are taken care of before ever getting the chance to hurt you or your family (including the furry, four-legged members). Instead of having to worry about what’s lurking out there, you can get back to simply enjoying time outside.
Ready to say goodbye to biting pest worries at your Tennessee or Northern Mississippi home? Talk to an expert, learn more about our flea and tick control program, our mosquito control program, or about adding fire ant control to one of our 3 lawn care programs, and become the master of your lawn.
