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So you found an itchy, red bump on your skin — is it from a spider or a mosquito? And should you be concerned? Fortunately, you probably don’t need to worry about either kind of bite unless you experience other symptoms. Both of these creatures create similar-looking bites, and knowing the difference between them can help prevent them in the future and get rid of any pests in your home or business.

Mosquito vs. Spider Bites

Both mosquito and spider bites are red, slightly raised bumps that typically itch. These similarities make it hard to tell where the bite came from. While mosquito bites are just itchy, spider bites may be painful and have one or two dark dots in the middle of the bite. These dots are fang marks, and since mosquitos don’t have fangs, they don’t leave these marks.

Your bite should go away on its own regardless of the source. If it’s swollen, try applying an ice pack in 10-minute intervals or using an over-the-counter anti-itch cream. A do-it-yourself option is to mix a tablespoon of baking soda with enough water to form a paste. Apply it to the bite for 10 minutes before washing it off.

Identifying Mosquito Bites

Mosquitos don’t actually “bite” with teeth — they use a unique part of their mouth called a proboscis to pierce the skin and inject saliva. This injection is what causes redness and swelling. Your body treats the saliva as an allergen, causing the area to swell. It may be a puffy, reddish bump or a hard, itchy bump with a reddish-brown color.

Some people have worse reactions to mosquito bites. You may have a more serious allergy if you get hives. Mosquito bites can also get infected, which causes them to get redder, feel warm and develop a streak that spreads outward. See a doctor right away if you get any of these symptoms.

In addition to the bite itself, you may also be able to figure out what kind of bite you have based on the environment. You might find mosquitos hanging around in the following places:

• Warm weather: Mosquitos hibernate or die in cold conditions, so they only emerge in warmer periods. They cannot function below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so if something bit you in the depths of winter, you likely aren’t dealing with a mosquito. If you live in a warm climate like ours here in Texas, you might be exposed to mosquitos all year long.
• Near standing water: Mosquitos like shallow, stagnant water, like ponds, lakes and marshes. You’ll also find them near puddles, such as those in a birdbath or a forgotten kid’s pool.
• In groups: Many mosquitos fly in large groups, so you might find yourself with multiple bites. Spiders, on the other hand, usually travel solo, resulting in one bite at a time.

Mosquitos don’t bite you just for fun or even as a normal food source. Only female mosquitos feed on blood, and they do it because they use the protein from blood to develop their eggs and reproduce. A mosquito might feed on you simply because you’re there.

Identifying Spider Bites

You might be relieved to know that spider bites are quite rare in the United States. Unlike mosquitos, spiders generally won’t bite you without provocation. Bites typically occur when the spider is surprised or threatened, such as when you stick your foot into the shoe they built their home in. Most spiders don’t even have fangs that can pierce skin or venom that’s toxic to humans. Around a dozen of about 40,000 species worldwide can cause harm to humans.

Two groups of spiders can cause harm in North America. These are the widow and recluse groups, which contain black widows and brown recluses, respectively. Even these bites are rare, and one study found that out of 182 suspected bites in Southern California, only 3.8% were actually spider bites. Most were actually infections.

Like mosquito bites, spider bites often look innocuous. Bites from dangerous species usually come with noticeable symptoms, including:

• A lesion that expands or spreads
• A bullseye rash
• Tissue death, which starts as painful, purplish blisters
• Headaches and muscle aches
• Fever, with or without chills
• Nausea or vomiting
• Joint paint
• Tiredness
• Sweating

If you have a bite and any of these symptoms, see your health care provider right away. Fortunately, these bites are rarely fatal, but medical attention is still crucial.

A spider’s habitat is a little harder to predict than a mosquito’s, especially with so many different species. Although you can find them inside and outdoors, spiders usually hang out on their own and in quiet, undisturbed areas. If you’ve been clearing out the basement or doing spring cleaning, you might be more likely to find one.

How to Prevent Mosquito and Spider Bites

Since mosquitos are usually found outside, you can often prevent bites by wearing long sleeves and pants, using mosquito repellant and keeping your yard free of standing water. Still, ongoing mosquito prevention can be difficult, especially if your yard has drainage issues or you have decorative water elements like ponds or birdbaths. Professional mosquito control services can eliminate mosquitos more thoroughly.

To keep spiders at bay, try to avoid clutter in your home and seal up potential entryways, such as large gaps under doors or cracks in the walls. You can also use home remedies like spraying vinegar or leaving chestnuts in problem areas.

If you see a lot of spiders, you may have another bug problem. Since spiders feed on other bugs, a large spider presence could indicate a prime dining spot with plenty of meals. This scenario typically calls for professional pest control services to remove both types of bugs.

Get Rid of Spiders and Mosquitos With Pest Control

Even if their bites are often harmless, spiders and mosquitos should never share a home or workplace with you. Professional pest control services can keep spiders and mosquitos out of your home, yard or place of business. If you’re in East Texas, the pros at Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control are ready to help.

We use more a more natural approach with minimal pesticides to get rid of pests and prevent them from returning. Our comprehensive approach looks at everything from food supplies and structural characteristics of the building to pest-specific repellent products and protective barriers. Whatever pests you find, our experienced team can help you get back to enjoying your space.

Contact us today to talk with an expert and start the first steps to a bug-free home or business.

If a swollen, painful or itchy mark has appeared on your skin, you’d probably like to know what caused it. Many bug bites look similar, so figuring out what creepy crawly bit you can be challenging. In most cases, a bug bite won’t be harmful, but knowing what bite you have can help you treat it properly and look out for more serious symptoms.

To help you solve the mystery, we’ve compiled some common bug bites you might encounter and tips for figuring it out.

How to Identify a Bug Bite

We’ll go over common bug bites next, but if none seem right, you can often find your answer with a good Google search. Describe the bite and see if the bug that comes up lives in your area.

Many bites will look similar, but characteristics to pay attention to include:

• Size and shape
• Redness
• Pain level
• Itchiness
• Sensation of heat
• Grouping with other bites
• Bruising

How to Treat a Bug Bite

Most bug bites and stings have a similar treatment process:

1. Clean the area with soap and water.
2. Apply an ice pack or a cold, damp washcloth to reduce swelling.
3. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine to reduce itching and swelling.
4. Use a calming lotion or cream, such as calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream, to help with itching and swelling.

Some bugs carry serious diseases, so symptoms like fever, nausea, sweating or muscle pain can signify something more severe. They typically warrant a trip to the doctor’s office. Almost all bugs can cause significant allergic reactions, which could involve excessive swelling or heat. Insects with stingers are also known for potentially causing anaphylactic responses, like trouble breathing, a swollen tongue and hives. These situations require immediate medical attention or an epinephrine auto-injector.

7 Different Types of Bug Bites

Now, let’s dive into the countless bug possibilities! Here’s our handy bug bite identifier list, complete with different types of common bites, stings and marks.

1. Bees, Wasps and Yellowjackets

If you get stung by one of these insects, you’ll know it. They pierce the skin with their stingers and inject venom into the body.

Bees — which are unlikely to sting you — leave a red, inflamed area with a small white circle around the sting. They can be painful, swollen and itchy. You’ll need to remove the stinger before treating the area. Wasps leave similar marks but keep their stingers.

A yellowjacket sting might be a little more painful. They can cause itching, warmth at the sting site and even some fatigue. They won’t leave stingers behind either, but the treatment is similar to a bee sting.

Allergies to bee and wasp stings are common, so be on the lookout for more severe symptoms.

2. Mosquitos

You probably know what a mosquito bite looks like. It’s a common itchy type of bug bite, usually accompanied by a raised, reddish bump. Mosquito bites themselves are more annoying than dangerous — although they can carry diseases like Zika virus and Dengue Fever. Hydrocortisone cream can relieve itching, and ice packs help reduce swelling. Whatever you do, don’t scratch mosquito bites, which can lead to infection.

3. Scorpions

If you live in a warm area, like we do in the southern United States, you might have scorpions hanging around. These arachnids may look dangerous, but their sting is usually similar to a bee sting. They can cause pain and localized swelling. In the United States, only one of about 70 species of scorpion is considered dangerous to humans, and it lives in Arizona and specific parts of California and New Mexico.

4. Centipedes

Yes, centipedes can leave a mark. They don’t actually bite, instead using claw-like forelegs filled with venom. Centipedes don’t typically use these claws on humans, but you might see a trail of marks on your skin from the forelegs scratching against you. They could leave blisters, too. Some people don’t notice centipede bites, but others say they feel like bee stings.

5. Spiders

Before you panic about a possible spider bite, know that out of 40,000 species worldwide, only about a dozen can hurt a healthy adult. In the United States, the primary concerns are black widows and brown recluses, and their bites are still rare.

With that reassurance, most spider bites look a lot like other bug bites, with localized swelling and redness. They may hurt more than other bites, and sometimes you’ll see fang marks, or two small holes, in the middle of the bite. Also, if you have a bug bite that looks like a bruise, a spider could be the culprit.

If you have whole-body symptoms, you might be looking at a bite from one of the dangerous species we mentioned. A bite from a black widow can cause muscle stiffness and pain, nausea or vomiting, sweating, belly pain or cramping, trouble breathing and swollen eyelids. A brown recluse bite causes tissues around the area to die off and turn into an ulcer. Some of the first symptoms include muscle pain, blistering and bruising, but severe symptoms can also occur, such as fever, dizziness and vomiting.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, see a health care provider immediately. While fatal spider bites are rare, you will likely need medical attention.

6. Ticks

Tick bites are easy to miss because they’re relatively painless. You could, however, see a tick attached to you — which is a pretty good giveaway of what you’re working with. Before you can treat the bite, you’ll need to remove the tick, which can be tricky and requires the following steps:

1. With a good pair of tweezers, grab the tick as close as possible to the skin’s surface.
2. Pull straight up and away with steady pressure, and avoid twisting or bending the tick.
3. Check the bite for any parts of the tick that may have been left behind, like a head or mouth. Remove them if necessary.
4. Clean the bite with water and antibacterial cleanser, rubbing alcohol, iodine or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
5. After removing the tick, submerge it in rubbing alcohol to kill it. Then, place it in a sealed container. If you show severe symptoms later, your doctor may want to analyze the tick for species and pathogens.

These bug bites look like mosquito bites. While the bites themselves are usually harmless, ticks are known carriers of dangerous diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Lyme usually comes with a characteristic bullseye-shaped mark. If you have whole-body symptoms like fever, fatigue, muscle aches, vomiting or abdominal pain, see your doctor immediately.

7. Bed Bugs

Wondering why your bug bite looks like a line of bumps? Bed bug bites are one of the best indicators of these critters. You may not notice them at night, but you will probably see the red line of small bites going up your body. These bites are usually raised and itchy. Another sign you might be dealing with bed bugs is if you see reddish or reddish-brown spots on your bedding. These spots can be from blood or bug droppings.

If you see signs of bed bugs, get rid of them immediately. Bed bugs can be hard to kill and find, and they can quickly cause an infestation. You’ll often need professional services.

Avoiding Bug Bites With Pest Control

You might not be able to avoid some of these bugs in the wild, but they should never take residence in your home, yard or business. If you notice these bites or otherwise suspect bugs in your space, professional pest control services can eliminate them and keep them from returning.

In East Texas, Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control is your full-service provider, offering a wide range of pest control options. We use minimal pesticides and take a comprehensive approach to identify points of entry, kill existing bugs, discourage insect migration and remove habitats. From bed bugs to wasps and everything in between, we’re here to help residents and business owners in Houston, Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding areas.

Reach out today to talk to a pro and get an estimate!

 

 

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Imagine this. It’s summer. You spend the day by the lake, and not once do you have to swat at a mosquito. You return home and host a barbecue, and nobody leaves with itchy, red welts. You sleep that night with the windows open, secure in the knowledge that there will be no buzzing mosquitoes on the hunt for your blood.

This would be a dream come true for those accustomed to fighting off mosquitoes. And for millions of people who are infected by diseases mosquitoes carry, a world without mosquitoes would literally be life-changing and life-saving.

Mosquitoes kill more people than any other species in the world, and half of the global population is at risk of contracting a disease from a simple mosquito bite. More than a million people die every year from malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and other mosquito-borne diseases. And it’s not just humans. Livestock and other animals are infected, too.

It’s safe to say that the world would be a better and safer place without mosquitoes to worry about. But what would happen if the most hated insect in the world was eradicated from the face of the Earth?

Mosquitoes as Vectors

Eradicating mosquitos would provide a long-term solution to the life-threatening diseases mosquitoes carry, which is certainly a thought-provoking prompt for a call to action, right? The problem isn’t mosquitoes, per se. Like other insects, they play a significant role in the ecosystem.

The issue is that mosquitos are vectors — or carriers — with little control over the transmission process. From penetrating the source of the pathogens to the unfortunate victims they pass it on to, they are involuntary hosts who are unaware of the destruction they cause. Interestingly enough, only female mosquitoes bite and suck blood, so male mosquitos don’t pose any threat to people.

The germs these female hosts pick up aren’t all harmful. The mosquito must have the capacity to promote its growth for the germ to cultivate internally, and only a percentage of the viable hosts successfully infect their victims. While mosquitos still transmit a high number of diseases, imagine if male mosquitos could also transmit diseases or if every mosquito was able to carry the pathogen. That certainly paints a different picture!

How Do Mosquitoes Transmit Diseases?

So, how exactly do mosquitoes make us sick? It’s not as clear-cut as you might think. Consider a brief overview of the transmission process:

1. The mosquito draws blood containing harmful bacteria from a human or animal. The bacteria often contains a deadly virus or parasite. If the harmful bacteria grows in the mosquito’s body, they can pass it on. If it stays dormant, it won’t do harm. Remember: Not all germs will multiply.
2. Inside the mosquito, the bacteria moves from the body to the saliva glands, where it is stored.
3. The infected mosquito bites another human or animal, transmitting the virus into their blood through their saliva glands. The human or animal is more prone to get sick if their immune system can not fight the newly transmitted germ.

Disease is more likely to spread in dense populations since the individuals carrying the virus are in close proximity, making it easier for the same mosquito carriers to infect multiple people in that population.

Mosquito-Related Diseases in the US

There are various virus strains carried by certain mosquito species in the United States. The most common and dangerous is the West Nile virus, first identified in New York in 1999. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that 2,800 people died in total between 1999 and 2022 from the West Nile virus. While it is still prevalent in some warmer U.S. climates, far fewer infection cases are reported each year. Although the West Nile virus is still around, other deadly viruses like the Zika virus and the chikungunya virus have not been recorded in the U.S. in years.

Mosquito-related risk in the U.S. is minimal. Malaria was successfully eradicated, and there is hope that the West Nile virus infection rate will dwindle and eventually be eradicated, too.

Hypothetical Mosquito Eradication

The Earth has been home to mosquitos for more than 100 million years, meaning they’ve evolved alongside thousands of species. They play a significant role in many ecosystems, and there are more than 3,500 named species.

Of the 3,500 species of mosquitoes, only 100 are attracted to human blood, while most leave humans alone. Many people don’t realize that there are thousands of mosquito species that live completely off of plant and fruit nectar.

Does this mean that removing mosquitoes from the planet would leave predators without prey? Would it leave plants without pollinators? In short, yes. However, many scientists believe the niche currently filled by mosquitoes would be taken over by other organisms, possibly causing things to go back to normal — or get even better.

Mosquitoes Must Serve SOME Purpose. Right?

Indeed, mosquitoes do make a big impact on Earth. They affect the behavior of all species, including humans, and they are an abundant — and often easy — food source for insect eaters. They also are a driving force in the evolution of defense mechanisms.

Still, many scientists think their absence would not be missed and that other species would take the place of mosquitoes and be less of a nuisance to humans in the process.

Which Animals Would Be Affected?

If mosquitoes were eradicated from the planet, hundreds of fish species would need to change their diet. This could be problematic, especially for the mosquitofish, a specialized predator that is extremely adept at killing mosquito larvae. Aquatic entomologist Richard Merritt warns that some fish could even face extinction. Without these fish, the food chain would be disrupted in both directions.

Certain birds, bats, spiders, insects, salamanders, lizards and frogs also eat mosquitoes and may struggle without them. However, these animals typically are not completely reliant on mosquitoes. With the loss of this supplement in their diet, it’s estimated that these species would simply seek out other insects that would likely be found in larger numbers once mosquitoes are gone.

Most species would not starve without mosquitoes, and several would thrive if they disappeared.

What About the Insects and Plants That Mosquitoes Eat?

But don’t mosquitoes help the ecosystem through the things that they eat?

It’s true that larvae eat decaying leaves, microorganisms and organic detritus, but they aren’t the only ones doing the dirty job. Other organisms process detritus, and mosquitoes definitely aren’t the most important players in that game.

However, in certain bodies of water, the removal of mosquitoes could pose a problem. In eastern North America, mosquito and midge species actually play a vital role. When an insect drowns, midges chew the carcasses while the mosquito larvae step in to feed on the waste products. This produces nutrients that are important for the plants. So, without mosquitos, certain plant species might feel the effects.

Plants may also suffer because mosquitos are pollinators. Only some mosquito species feed on human or animal blood, and even then, it’s only the females who actually suck blood. However, is their pollination crucial to crops? Not really, say leading experts. Mosquitoes serve a purpose, but the purpose could be filled by other pollinators.

Has Eradication Been Tested?

So far, a few small eradication tests have been performed with success.

Oxford University scientists genetically modified the males in the species responsible for carrying the Zika virus and dengue fever: the Aedes aegypti species. The intent was to give the males a gene that would stop their offspring from developing properly so that the next generation of mosquitoes would be unable to reproduce before they die.

The scientists released these genetically modified mosquitoes in a site on the Cayman Islands and found a 96% reduction in mosquitoes when compared with other nearby areas. Similar trials have produced similar results.

Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, despite these promising results, these methods wouldn’t be feasible for a total world eradication, as millions of modified mosquitoes are required for just a small area.

The Positives of Eradicating Mosquitoes

Even though complete eradication is hypothetical, it’s easy to see the positives of eradicating mosquitoes from the world.

The quality of life for countries burdened by mosquito-borne diseases would increase dramatically, affecting several areas of life. Children would be healthier, which means they would miss school less often. Public health resources could be diverted to other priority health issues. The burdens on the health systems would be reduced. Countries may be able to recover the loss of gross domestic product malaria is responsible for.

And the amount of lives that would be saved? You simply can’t put a price on that.

The Negatives of Eradicating Mosquitoes

Unfortunately, the unknowns of eliminating an entire species are great. Phil Lounibos, an entomologist, warns of the dangers of eliminating pollinators and food sources. He also worries that whatever insects rise up to replace mosquitoes could be just as bad as — or worse than — mosquitoes. The unknowns are risky. What if the replacement spreads disease quicker and further than mosquitoes?

And then there are the rainforests. Mosquitoes make it almost impossible for humans to live in tropical rainforests. While concerns about deforestation are valid, mosquitoes may have actually slowed the destruction.

And what about the morals and ethics of destroying an entire species?

Alternative Ideas

While many scientists are hard at work determining if eradication is possible, and if it would be appropriate, others are going about the mosquito problem in different ways.

A sensor has been developed that can detect the species of mosquitoes. When a person wears the detector, they can be warned and track the disease-bearing mosquitoes, potentially managing future outbreaks.

Some scientists are studying what attracts mosquitoes to certain body odors, which may give way to even more effective mosquito repellents. Others are aiming to make mosquitoes resistant to the parasites that cause dangerous diseases.

Where Do You Stand When It Comes to Mosquito Eradication?

If we had to venture a guess, we would bet that any reader would welcome a real solution for being bitten less often by mosquitoes. Luckily, the Barefoot Mosquito is effective, inexpensive and uses a 99% natural solution.

While you can’t get rid of mosquitoes across the world, you can make your own home free of mosquitoes when you use the Barefoot Mosquito. Give us a call today at 512-400-2008 in Austin or 713-554-9430 in Houston. Or request a free quote online.

 

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Termites are small white insects found across most of the United States. They are similar to ants in that workers constantly forage for food for the colony and queen. They eat anything containing cellulose — wood is mainly made of cellulose, so that is their favorite meal. Termites are very destructive pests and can cause incredible damage to your property. Identifying the different types of termites and the signs of an infestation are vital skills every homeowner should have.

Basics of Termite Identification

Identifying termites means knowing their behavior and signs of an infestation. Termites live and feed on wood and always stay close to a food source, meaning they typically remain in one part of the house. They are especially attracted to moist or damp wood, so keeping the wooden parts of your house dry is a wise way to reduce the risk of an infestation.

Termites may be small, but they leave a lot of evidence if you know what to look for. Keep an eye out for these signs of termites:

• Mud tubes: Mud tubes are an obvious indicator of a termite infestation. Termites spread and travel through these tunnels of dirt that are held together by their glue-like saliva. Look for mud tubes that spread out like veins on the walls of your house and are about the width of a pencil.
• Swarmer termites: Swarmer termites are winged adult termites. They fly in groups and indicate that you have an infestation or are at risk of one. These termites can be black, beige, tan, red or dark brown with straight antennae, six legs and four transparent wings of equal size and shape. Swarmers shed their wings and crawl away, meaning a pile of discarded wings is another sign of termites.
• Droppings: Termite droppings look a lot like sawdust. They leave their droppings in or near wood, where they are hard to see.
• Hollow wood: Wood that sounds hollow when you tap it means you may have an infestation. Use a screwdriver or a knife to probe the wood. You likely have termites if you find a thin, gritty, gray-brown film on your tool.
• Household damage: If you notice signs of damage to your home, you must act quickly and call an exterminator. The late signs of an infestation include bubbling paint, sagging floors, crumbling or damaged wood trim, small holes in your drywall and loose tiles.

If you see any of these signs, you must book a professional inspection or exterminator because termites act quickly. Even the slightest delay could result in a lot of damage.

Types of Termites

Termites work in organized colonies with many different types of termites with different jobs. There are three types of termites you need to look out for. Knowing their roles and physical attributes will give you the upper hand in dealing with these tiny destructive pests.

Worker Termites

Termite workers make up the largest majority of a colony. They are white wingless insects ranging from around 0.2 inches to 0.4 inches. The workers have a variety of roles within the colony. If you see a termite, it is most likely a worker or a flying swarmer.

The roles of termite workers include:

• Look after the queen: The queen is fed and groomed by her workers and relies on them for the nutrients needed to lay eggs.
• Building tunnels: Worker termites are the ones who make the tunnels. They gather the materials and use their sticky saliva to create tunnels that look like veins on the walls of your house.
• Raising the young: Termite workers are responsible for caring for the queen’s eggs and looking after the hatchlings before they grow up and start foraging.
• Gather food: Termites chew through wood and other cellulose-heavy materials in search of food to feed themselves, the queen and the colony.
• Excavating: The job of digging the holes for the nest and its expansion is assigned to worker termites.

There are thousands of worker termites at any given moment, all focusing on at least one of these roles.

Eating through wood is their most destructive behavior, but they may target other sources of cellulose. Paper and grass are also targets for termites, and old, wooden bookshelves are a tasty food source for them. Their primary instinct is to look for food and will do so no matter what, which means they are dedicated to finding food and chewing it. In nature, they are useful ways of getting rid of dead and decaying matter, but that usefulness in nature is what makes them such a destructive pest for homeowners.

Reproductive Termites

Reproductive termites are easy to tell apart from the rest and, as the name suggests, are termites that breed and expand the colony. The queen is the most important reproductive termite, but king termites and winged alates are also reproducing members of the colony.

Alates are another name for swarmer termites. They have wings and are reproducers who leave the colony to start new nests. It can take years for a colony to start giving birth to winged swarmers. You can typically see them in spring, summer and fall, and they always travel in groups. Once they land, they discard their wings and start digging to start their own nests.

The queen is the largest type of termite, and her job is lay thousands of eggs every day. She is several times larger than her workers. The termite king is approximately the same size as a worker but is darker in color. The king spends his entire life underground, keeping the colony strong and viable. He, too, is fed by the workers.

Soldier Termites

Termite soldiers are assigned the duty of protecting the colony. Soldier termites are much large than workers. They can vary significantly in appearance from the other members of the colony to the point where you may confuse them with another species of insect. Larger and darker heads with sizeable mandibles are their biggest and most notable differences. They will protect the queen and colony with their lives from predators and anything they deem a threat. They may even bite.

Save Your Home From Termites

The most important thing any homeowner can do against termites is act quickly. Now that you know what a termite looks like and how to spot the signs of an infestation, you will know when to call a professional for help.

Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control are masters at removing termites from your property effectively, efficiently, and responsibly. Homeowners can get rid of these pests by requesting a free online quote now.

 

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If you live in Texas, you’ve probably experienced your fair share of mosquitoes. Removing these insects is essential to protect your family from mosquito-borne illness and thoroughly enjoy your property.

Fortunately, mosquito control is easier than ever with the help of the experts at Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control. Learn the differences between automatic misting systems and manual control services below or contact our team today!

Automatic Mosquito Misting Systems

Automatic misting systems operate by dispersing a pesticide into the air at intervals throughout the day, deterring mosquitoes that come near them.

Pros

These systems function automatically, so you won’t have to worry about manually spraying or fogging the site. With this method, you can enjoy a limited radius protected from mosquitoes.

Potential Cons

The main drawback of an automatic mosquito misting system is its limited reach. The system sprays only around the installation zone, and wind and weather affect its efficiency.  This creates concerns for pool owners, households with small children who are attracted to the spray, and neighbors that are sensitive to pesticides that could experience chemical drift on their properties.  Although automated, these systems also require upkeep such as chemical storage, product refilling and blockage prevention as nozzles need to be replaced frequently due to hard water build-up.  There is also a significant upfront expense of equipment purchase and installation that usually costs thousands of dollars.

Manual Mosquito Control

Known as one of the most effective ways to control mosquitoes, manual mosquito control involves trained technicians who inspect your property and then apply repellents to all necessary areas, usually a client’s entire property. With a much more targeted and pressurized mist, a more thorough vegetation penetration can occur for a much higher kill rate.  There is no need to purchase equipment or pay for expensive installations and equipment maintenance.  Tailored specifically for your needs and situation, this treatment will reduce breeding and resting areas where mosquitoes like to hide while creating barriers that prevent mosquitoes from entering your yard in the first place.  Pools, edible plantings, and children’s play areas can be avoided and drift to neighboring properties reduced.

Advantages

The manual mosquito control method is a low-cost entry alternative to automatic systems. Manual is much more effective as control eliminates new breeding areas while it can also eradicate fleas and ticks. Certified experts perform the process, which covers a large region, prevents future mosquito adults from emerging and frees the homeowner from the responsibility of storing chemicals and maintaining equipment.

Potential Disadvantages

To see the benefits of mosquito barrier treatments, you must request a team to visit your property and let the applied product dry for 30 minutes before using the treated area again.

Dynamic vs. Static Mosquito Misting — Which Is Superior?

If you seek a reliable and effective way to protect your home or business from mosquitoes, consider dynamic misting systems. Manual misting is the only method that accounts for the entire insect life cycle and the weather when protecting against mosquitoes. As a bonus, manual mosquito control is done on your behalf, so you can have peace of mind knowing your property will remain protected from pests without any effort on your part.

Request a Quote From Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control

If you want to see the benefits of this mosquito control method, Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control can help! Contact us today or request a quote online to learn about our manual mosquito control services around Austin, Houston and San Antonio.

 

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Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite. Maybe your parents tucked you in with this old saying. Maybe it even seemed like an innocent thing to say, but drifting off to sleep with a harmless rhyme and falling asleep with actual biting bedbugs are two very different things. If you’re concerned about getting rid of bedbugs, read these commonly asked questions to learn more about these pesky bedfellows.

What Is a Bedbug?

First of all, definitions are in order.

Bedbugs are small, nocturnal insects from the Cimicidae family, measuring just 4 to 7 mm. Flat and oval, they’re also reddish-brown in color. However, if they’ve just fed on a person, their shape will be more like a torpedo, and they’ll be more red in color. Young bedbugs are a more translucent white-yellow color. Even though they’re tiny, they can often be easy to spot.

Do They Really Bite?

Yes, they definitely do. They feed on the blood of humans. However, while humans are their preferred meal, bedbugs will also fill up quite nicely on the blood of other warm-blooded hosts in the absence of a tasty human.

Do They Live on Pets or Humans?

Bedbugs don’t actually live on pets or humans. They just feast on them.

Where Are They Found?

Everywhere. Since bedbugs need the blood of humans to survive, they can be found in any part of the world where humans dwell – typically near where humans sleep.

Where Do They Come From?

It’s a common misconception that dirty homes breed bedbugs. Rather, they often come from hotels or other temporary accommodations, hitching a ride on your clothing. They can also arrive on used clothing or furniture.

Keeping your home clean can slow the infestation of bedbugs, but if they make it into your home, your cleanliness won’t keep them away entirely. Apartment complexes often become infested because it’s easy for the bedbugs to travel from apartment to apartment.

How Do They Feed?

Bedbugs are nocturnal, so they’ll come out at night to suck a human’s blood. The creepy thing is they normally suck your blood for five whole minutes before going back to their hiding places.

How can they get away with such a long feeding period? When the nasty, little bug bites you, it injects two hollow tubes into your skin. One tube is for injecting an anticoagulant and anesthetic, and the other tube is for sucking up your blood. You don’t feel a thing (mosquitoes do the same thing, by the way).

What Does Their Bite Do to Humans?

A bedbug’s bite isn’t dangerous to humans, but it’s sure annoying. You’ll notice either a flat welt or a raised, red bump and it will likely be itchy. They can take a few days to a few weeks to go away on their own, and they can even cause rashes if you’re bit frequently. Because of this, work on getting rid of bedbugs as soon as you notice any sign of them.

How Do You Stop the Itch?

Over-the-counter creams for insect bites will usually do the trick. You can also try Benadryl or calamine lotion. But remember – once the bite is there, you can expect more. Take care of bedbugs immediately.

How Can You Tell If You Have Bedbugs?

Aside from the bites, there are a variety of ways to spot bedbugs. One of those is through your nose. Most people say bedbugs smell like raspberries, but if you’re dealing with an infestation, you’ll likely smell something resembling moldy shoes.

In addition, you can often visually see bedbugs in your bed. Check the headboards, mattress and corners of bed nets. You might also see blood stains, fecal spots, and exoskeleton skins.

They can also be found in places other than the bed — old furniture, behind peeling paint, and wooden floorboards. Typically, however, you’ll find them in a concentrated area within 10 to 20 feet of your mattress.

How Do You Get Rid of Bedbugs?

Time is of the essence when it comes to getting rid of bedbugs as each bedbug can lay four to five eggs per day. (Yikes!)

Don’t:

• Start sleeping in another location or near another person – they could follow you and infest the new place!
• Bring anything else into the contaminated room – it could become contaminated as well.
• Throw anything out — bedbugs travel well, so don’t think throwing things away will remove the problem.
• Bag anything up without first washing it in hot water and drying it on hot for one to two hours.
• Try and remove them yourself – there are plenty of do-it-yourself methods, but without the know-how and equipment, you may just end up scattering the bedbugs to new locations.

Do:

• Call a pest control company right away.
• Save any bedbug specimens you find to show to the pest control company for identification purposes.

How Can You Avoid Bringing Bedbugs Home When You Travel?

Check travel reviews of the hotel where you want to stay. Consider staying in a different hotel if one has had reports of bedbugs. Once in the hotel, check the headboard, mattress, frame, and pictures for any signs of bedbugs (blood spots, eggs, exoskeletons, etc.). After checking the luggage rack for bedbugs, store your luggage only on the rack. Hang clothes up, rather than storing them in a dresser. To get rid of bed bugs is an extremely important thing to do so you can be sure that you are not infesting anyone else as it is THAT easy to do it.

Discovering a bedbug infestation in your home is incredibly unnerving, but when dealt with swiftly with the help of a reputable pest control company, you’ll soon be able to sleep at ease once again!

Contact Barefoot Today

 

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With the exterior nature of pest control, we naturally get many questions about rainy weather predictions. Going off of years of experience in the industry, we know that not all weather scenarios can be handled similarly, and that not all services are as impacted by adverse weather as it might seem. So when inclement weather is forecast, how do we work to ensure that our clients who are due for service aren’t simply overlooked or pushed off? Let’s break it down below.

FORECASTS

We can all recall a time when a clear weather forecast ended up being way off target. Perhaps a special event or activity got rained out, or your recent car wash went kaput. Your daily life gets impacted. But how many times did it go the other way, with nice weather instead of bad, and you never even noticed?

Well, the local meteorologist knows this as well. Rather than promise a sunny day that turns rainy, they’re going to err on the side of predicting rain. This lessens the impact if they get it wrong. Not only are rain chances often inflated or inaccurate, they are subject to change. We see this all the time on days which began at a predicted 70% or 80% chance of rain, only to be revised down to single digits and with no rainfall.

It’s very easy to look at a weather forecast like “40% chance of rain” and resign yourself to dealing with a wet day. However, that’s not always the case. We’re bound to get an incorrect impression when a forecast is distilled down to a number and a rain cloud emoji. What size area is in question? Is that daytime, or overnight? What does that percentage number actually mean, anyway? Longtime Austin meteorologist and University of Texas senior lecturer Troy Kimmel has some answers. He puts it this way:

“[It] is simply a statistical probability… Using a 40% probability of rain as an example, it does not mean (1) that 40% of the area will be covered by precipitation at given time in the given forecast area or (2) that you will be seeing precipitation 40% of the time in the given forecast area for the given forecast time period… If a forecast for a given county says that there is a 40% chance of rain this afternoon, then there is a 40% chance of rain at any point in the county from noon to 6 p.m. local time.” (http://la.utexas.edu/users/kimmel/nwsforecasts.html)

That’s a pretty wide target. He has put together a handy table to help illustrate his meaning.

It’s not until 60% that rain chances can even be described as ‘likely.’ So, you see how a 40% chance of rain forecast can easily leave your neighborhood dry as a bone.

SERVICE PERFORMANCE

Pest Control

The treatment done on the structure of a home is remarkably resilient, and shouldn’t be affected by the rain. We spray two to three feet up foundation of the house, entry points like doors and windows, and into the eaves of the roof overhead. Unless there is driving sideways rain, water will never touch that product. We also distribute a granular application throughout the yard that is actually activated by water. So in this case, the rain actually helps us.

Mosquito Control

For Mosquito Control, there are often client concerns before, after, and during rain. However, worries about treatment being “washed away” are only accurate in one phase.

Before

As long as our Mosquito treatment has has time to dry, it is perfectly ok to treat before rain. Here’s an excerpt from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ publication Adjuvants to Improve Rainfastness [with some notes added by us in bold] to help explain why.

“Adjuvants that increase absorption of the product into plant tissues can be added to increase the rainfastness and overall performance of a pesticide. Adjuvants can either be included in the formulation or added to the spray tank before application. Adjuvants to enhance rainfastness of pesticides can include surfactants [that’s what we use], oils [like the botanical oils we use in our application], deposition agents, and thickeners. In particular, organosilicone surfactants are commonly used to improve rainfastness, reduce surface tension, and enhance spreading ability (Figure 5)”

After

We encourage our customers to keep their appointments after rain, because applying the solution onto still-wet foliage is just fine. What we’re spraying is already a water suspension, so it’s not going to be hurt by a little more water being present. And in fact, following a rainy day is actually a great time to service, since mosquitoes are out and about trying to take advantage of all the new standing water. It really spikes their activity, and we’re right there on top of them.

During

This is the only phase in which we will automatically hold off from conducting service, as rain running off of foliage will carry our product away with it. If our technicians are seeing rain while they are in the field, or if forecasts are indisputable that we will face all day rain, we will work to reschedule services to the soonest available serviceable opportunity.

Conclusion

We hope that this has been helpful in conveying why we still make the effort to take care of our clients in wet weather. We’re confident in our services and the technicians who carry them out. And with most clients services guaranteed one way or another, we are ready to help out in any situation – rain or shine.

Contact Barefoot Today

 

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