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The state of Oklahoma is home to some of the most iconic sports teams in the country, including the Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, and Oklahoma City Thunder. It is also home to numerous pests that can infiltrate your property and threaten the well-being of your family and pets. Three pests you should be on the lookout for in Oklahoma are chiggers, fleas, and ticks. In this blog, you will learn about each of these diminutive pests, the threats they pose, and how you can eradicate them from your property.

What are chiggers, and what problems do they cause?

Chiggers are microscopically small red bugs that are found in lawns throughout Oklahoma. Although you probably won't be able to spot them on your property without the assistance of a magnifying glass, you can definitely spot their impact. Chiggers feed on skin cells and leave itchy bites on those who are unfortunate enough to come in contact with them. Chigger bites create red welts on your skin that can cause persistent itching for one to two weeks, depending on the individual.

These tiny insects spend the winter months buried in your lawn's soil and then lay eggs at the start of spring. They hide in your grass when the weather is warmer and will stick around unless an effective insecticide treatment is applied. By applying a powerful insecticide on your property every 4-6 weeks throughout chigger season, you can help to keep your property chigger-free.

To ensure chiggers don't cause problems on your property, annual treatments should begin in the late winter before conditions are conducive to their development.

Fleas are tiny ectoparasites that bite pets and people.

Fleas are another common pest that likes to take up residence in the lawns of Oklahomans. These tiny insects are somewhere between reddish-brown to black in color and are classified as an ectoparasite, meaning they can live on the outside of their host. Household pets like cats and dogs are the hosts most often victimized by fleas, which feed on their blood. Pets typically pick up fleas while in the yard during the spring or summer and then unknowingly bring them indoors. Then, they can spread inside your home.

While fleas primarily latch onto pets, they can also bite humans. This is dangerous because fleas carry and transmit diseases. The best way to protect your family and pets from fleas is by treating your lawn regularly throughout the year with an insecticide. Applying this type of treatment will keep fleas off your property before they ever become a problem.

Ticks feed on blood and can transmit numerous diseases.

Ticks are similar to fleas but can be even more dangerous. These small, ovular parasites make their home in your lawn and then lay in wait until they locate an animal or human host. They are most prevalent in the warm-weather months and come in a variety of species, including the lone star tick, brown dog tick, and deer tick. Ticks latch onto a host and feed on their blood. In the process, they can transmit numerous diseases such as:

• Lyme disease
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Tularemia
• Heartland virus
• And more

The prescription for preventing ticks from impacting your family and pets is to treat your lawn with an insecticide throughout the year. Bifenthrin is a highly effective insecticide used to keep ticks away from your property. Performing regular applications of this product create a protective barrier against these pests.

Call today to schedule our pest control services!

Do you want to protect your property from chiggers, fleas, ticks, and other pests? If so, then we're here to help. At Elite Lawn Care, we have provided exceptional pest control services, including chigger, flea, and tick control, to homeowners in Oklahoma since 2003. Our treatments form a protective barrier around your property to keep pests far away. If you are in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Mustang, OK, or a nearby area, then call us at (405) 735-1223 to schedule our services today!

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Call today to schedule our pest control services!

Do you want to protect your property from chiggers, fleas, ticks, and other pests? If so, then we're here to help. At Elite Lawn Care, we have provided exceptional pest control services, including chigger, flea, and tick control, to homeowners in Oklahoma since 2003. Our treatments form a protective barrier around your property to keep pests far away. If you are in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Mustang, OK, or a nearby area, then call us at (405) 735-1223 to schedule our services today!

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