Pest Dangers To Health – The Truth About Pests Right Here!

Why Is Pest Control Health Information Important?

Why is pest control health important information? We hope to educate and prevent a public health risk or concern. They are called “pests” for a reason. Many people get chills just thinking about bed bugs, fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. And still, one misconception is that clean homes keep pests like cockroaches, mice, or rats away. It does, but we still produce waste in our homes, a food source for many insects and rodents. Nobody wants to spend all day cleaning and hear rodents scratching all night! Do not think you are safe because you can’t see more insects! We are the safest and most cost-effective pest control service in Oklahoma City. Informing our clients about pest control health is a priority we believe is necessary.

Pest Control Health Information Concerning Pest Control

Termites And Termite Treatment OKC

Termites are the “silent demolition crew” who are very good at their job! Their ability to chew through wood, flooring, and wallpaper undetected makes them a formidable enemy. Termites cause over $5 Billion in property damage yearly, and most insurance companies do not cover that in homeowners’ policies. Do termites carry disease? Termites are not known to carry disease. However, some people do have allergic reactions.

Dangers of Termites

Termites can and do bite humans. Although not harmful, you could experience swelling, itching, and a red spot that will disappear in a few days. Termites create an atmosphere primed for allergic or asthma reactions due to the release of mold spores from the wood they feed on. However, the biggest danger of termites is the damage they wreak on wood structures and furniture. Older homes with wood joists under the floors can collapse under your weight if the damage is severe enough. Frequent termite inspections are highly recommended.

Termiticide And Termite Treatment

On an important note, DIY termite treatments can be very toxic and harmful if you do not follow the directions provided during application. There is not one DIY product as effective or long-lasting as a professional termite treatment company will provide. Effects of exposure to these types of over-the-counter products have been known to cause nausea, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and a sore throat, and in some cases have been lethal. All our products at Bobbi Ray’s Termite and Pest Control are EPA approved and safe for you and your family.

Bed Bugs And Bed Bug Treatment

Bed bug control and bed bug treatment in Oklahoma City are common, more so than you would like to believe. Bed bugs are not known to spread disease. Bed bugs are not considered a medical or public health hazard. Bed bugs are more of an annoyance because their bite may cause itching and loss of sleep. Bed bug bites leave behind itchy, red bumps and increase one’s risk of secondary infection from scratching the bite area too much. However, 20% percent of Americans have experienced a bed bug infestation in their home or a hotel or know someone who has experienced it.

Spray and Heated Bed Bug Treatment

All our products for bed bug control are safe for families and pets. The compounds we use are lethal to bed bugs and force them out of their hiding places which then kills them. Considered a non-repellant product the bed bugs don’t know the area is poisonous to them so they do not leave.

Our bed bug Heat Treatment is available and completely safe. No steam or fuel is involved to create the heat. High-powered electric fans are used to raise the temperature. However, you still don’t want to be in the same room while treatment is ongoing.

Ants and Ant Control

The most common species of ants in the US do not cause public health hazards. However, ants can contaminate foods inside the home. There are several ant control products on the market today for DIY ant removal. As a precaution, please read the label for any dangers on the product you purchase to use yourself.

Imported Fire ants inject acid into the skin from their sting, which causes welts and allergic reactions resulting in red bumps turning into white pustules lasting several days. Allergic reactions, such as anaphylactic shock, do occur in some cases. Avoiding the nest or disturbing any nest from fire ants should be taken seriously.

Are Ant Control Sprays and Bait Safe?

Ant spray and bait products have a low amount of active ingredients. Understand the product only needs to be lethal to ants, and they carry it back to the nest. Generally, unintended contact or exposure does not pose a risk. Even small children who ingest ant bait products may only develop nausea and vomiting. However, you still want to avoid contact with the skin or eyes which does cause irritation.

Rodents – Rat and Mouse Control

Rodents contaminate or consume nearly 20 percent of the world’s food supply. They have started fires across the country by chewing wires or spilling flammable liquids. Thirty-seven percent of homeowners have seen a rodent in their homes this past year. Rats transmit diseases including plague, Salmonella, Rat-bite fever, and Leptospirosis. Rats and mice carry the Hantavirus which is spread from handling droppings and through the air from those droppings.

Rodents – Other Dangers

Aside from carrying disease and bacteria, the damage created by a rat or mouse in the home can be costly. Any structure infested by rodents if not dealt with quickly will find damage from wires being chewed, air ducts with holes, or damage in pipes, drywall, stored boxes, and more.

Rodent Control – Safe Products

The typical rat or mouse traps you purchase for your home provide some relief. A trap does just that, it traps the rodent one at a time. The traditional spring-type traps do pose a danger to children if they get their hands or foot caught. Bait stations, unlike traps, do not kill the rat or mouse inside the station. Eating the poison they leave and return to the nest infecting the other rats or mice. Bait stations are not easily accessible for children and pose little risk to your family or pets. Rodent control is one of the simpler extermination services we provide.

Roach and Cockroach Concerns

Roaches in your home definitely pose a health risk. Cockroaches are known to spread 33 kinds of bacteria! E. coli, Salmonella, and six types of parasitic worms. They spread seven kinds of human pathogens. Their saliva, droppings, and decomposing bodies trigger allergy and asthma symptoms, especially in children. Roach control in the Oklahoma City area is a very important service that we offer.

According to medical organizations, roaches are known to be carriers of intestinal diseases, such as dysentery, typhoid fever, diarrhea, and cholera.

Types Of Cockroaches in Oklahoma City

Cockroaches exist in every country in the world. Oklahoma happens to be in the top 20 for controlling and exterminating roaches. However, cockroaches are survivors and it seems like a continuous battle. In Oklahoma, you will find the American Cockroach, Oriental Cockroach, German Cockroach, Brown banded Cockroach, and last but not least, the Smokybrown Cockroach.

Mosquito Control in Oklahoma

The mosquito is a dangerous carrier of diseases, including the West Nile virus, Zika virus, yellow fever, and malaria. By far the most dangerous insect in the animal world. Mosquitoes kill more people yearly than snakes, sharks, and humans. However, not all mosquitoes spread germs in the United States. There are over 200 different types of mosquitoes, but only 12 spread viruses. In Oklahoma, only a very small amount of mosquitoes are able to spread diseases.

Mosquito Control Methods You Can Use

Living in Oklahoma City and the surrounding area you are familiar with mosquitoes. Try removing any standing water outside the home. If you have a water feature there are larvicides you can add to kill off the mosquito larvae. Any container that could possibly hold water should have a lid you can fasten down tightly to prevent eggs from being laid inside. You can check with the health department for the information they provide about mosquitoes. The CDC has a lot of good information on mosquito control you can find here.

Fighting The Tick Problem in Oklahoma

Ticks are most active at two different times every year. We can see them as early as March and they are active until May, and from August to November. However, you will find ticks throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Ticks carry diseases such as the Rocky Mountains spotted fever, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. They require twenty-four to forty-eight hours of feeding before successfully transmitting a disease. If removed within the first twenty-four hours, infections are unlikely.

Most Common Tick Types in Oklahoma

Ticks are growing in prevalence every year according to statistics. Our most common ticks include the black-legged tick, brown dog tick, lone star tick, and the American dog tick. The winter tick is the common tick for cattle and horses, but also for deer and elk in Oklahoma. You can find the latest information from the Oklahoma State Department of Health here.

Stinging Insects – Bees, Wasps, and Hornets

Stinging insects such as bees, wasps, and hornets send over half a million people to an emergency room yearly. Many people are allergic to those stings, and more than two million in the US alone. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, at least 50 people die yearly from stings insects inflict upon people.

Bees and wasps are active during the warmer months in Oklahoma. For many, a sting from one of these will cause pain, minor swelling is possible, and redness around the bite area. Believe it or not, wearing light-colored clothing outside reduces the risk of a bee or wasp encounter.

Bees in Oklahoma

The most well-known bees are the Bumblebees with fuzzy hair and yellow and black stripes. Honey bees live up to their name for producing honey. Carpenter bees, the long-horned bee, sweat bees, squash bees, digger bees, plus four other species thrive in Oklahoma. There is a really good article from an unusual source about bird watching with great information, you can find it here.

Wasps and Hornets in Oklahoma

There are 35,000 species of bees and wasps! Lucky for us only a few live in Oklahoma. Most wasps live solitary lives with their colony. Only when threatened do they get agitated and sting a human. Three of the wasps known for stings are the Paper wasps, Yellowjackets, and Bald-faced hornets. The Mud-daubers, Spider wasps, and Potter wasps are a rare stinging hazard. Wasps are attracted to sweet odors, which include cologne, perfume, and even hairspray.

Are Fleas A Health Concern?

Fleas typically live on animals, but they jump off when they find a nice warm carpet in your home. They can spread disease like many other insects, and fleas bite and feed off their host’s blood. They can survive in different climates but prefer warm and humid areas. Fleas are often seen in bedding and furniture and mistaken for bed bugs.

Are Fleas Dangerous?

Every year in Oklahoma it seems fleas are a common problem. Don’t believe because they mostly are a pet problem they can’t create health problems. Aside from the fact they can make your cat or dog incredibly uncomfortable, once they jump onto the carpet or furniture they can and will bite humans. Fleas have accounted for numerous plagues throughout history resulting in millions of deaths. Thriving in the warmer months fleas are a year-round pest control issue in Oklahoma.

Flies in Oklahoma City

Flies can transmit diseases to humans, including cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever, to name a few. They contaminate food products and spread poisons to food like Salmonella and E. coli. Summertime can bring swarms of flies to your home if you are unprepared for them. Not all flies bit humans, like the fruit fly and the common house fly.

Thirty-seven species of flies live in Oklahoma. The House fly, Fruit fly, Horse fly, and Horn fly are the most known flies. The list of flies is long and some are primarily problems for ranchers and farmers concerning their cattle or horse. Flies present a low risk to humans for the spread of disease, more so for Oklahoma’s livestock.

Spider and Spider Bites

Spiders in your home are a natural occurrence, and House spiders are prevalent but not very welcome in the home. Seeing spiders are expected, and outdoor spiders are very good at helping eliminate cockroaches, ticks, and fleas. The Brown Recluse and Black Widow are what most think of regarding dangerous spiders. Although tarantulas, jumping spiders, and wolf spiders look scary they are usually mistaken as being venomous.

The Brown Recluse Spider

Also known as the fiddleback spider, the brown recluse is not aggressive by nature. Due to its habit of climbing in shoes, clothing, and beds, it typically only bites when it feels weight or pressure. These spiders can cause severe damage to humans. Healing can take upwards of six to eight weeks. Scars in the body will look sunken and occur if not treated promptly.

The Black Widow Spider

The highest risk of a black widow spider bite is for very small children or senior adults. Considered by many as the most dangerous spider native to North America, the bite itself would feel like a tiny pin prick. However, within just a few minutes you could start to experience great pain. The toxins start to spread quickly to the arms, legs, chest, and abdomen. Often times with so much pain in the abdomen it is diagnosed incorrectly due to the fact the bite was so faint. Medical attention should be sought out immediately if bitten by a black widow.

Dust Mites

These microscopic creatures live in nearly every home. You can’t see them; they are dispersed into the air when making a bed or shaking out bed sheets. Considered a pest by many, they serve an essential role in the home. For example, dust mites feed on dead skin cells, and other debris left by humans, and people can develop allergies due to dust mites.

Are Dust Mites A Health Concern?

People with allergies are often caused by dust mites. There is an actual test available for dust mite allergies. It is an impossible feat to clear the home of dust mite allergens. While they only live for around 75 days, they leave behind thousands of particles. These tiny creatures occur naturally in nearly all homes. Keeping the humidity level low inside the home will also reduce the amount of dust mites. The impact on health is greater for people with known allergies or asthma.

Moths

Generally not thought of when it comes to pests, moths can damage clothing, cotton, fur, and silk. In particular, clothes hanging in closets are the perfect moth-feeding ground. They are attracted to light and frequent gardens, flowerbeds, and shrubs. While inside, as mentioned above, you will find them in closets, pantries, and cabinets.

Are Moths A Health Concern?

To state it plainly, moths are not a health concern. Incapable of biting it makes them virtually unharmful to humans. There are a few which are known to sting but those are non-venomous and not harmful to humans either. The greatest danger is the damage they leave behind on clothes and fabrics in the home.