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Blood Feeders
There are several types of pests that are considered blood feeders that can pose a serious risk to you and your pets. In New England, the most common types include: bed bugs and cat and dog fleas. Infestations of bed bugs and/or fleas should be addressed immediately, given their prolific nature and ability to spread diseases to humans and animals alike. To learn more about any of these particular pests, click on the profiles available for each type below.
Adult bed bugs are approximately 3/16 of an inch long and reddish-brown in color. They are flat with an oval shape. Once fed, they become plump and red.
What is the Bed Bug Diet?
Bed bugs feed mostly on human blood, but they will also feed on the blood of poultry, mice, rats, canaries, dogs, and cats when necessary.
What is the Bed Bug Reproductive Cycle?
Female bed bugs typically lay 1 to 5 eggs per day, and 200 – 500 in their lifetime. The eggs hatch in approximately seven days and reach adulthood in about 21 days.
Where do Bed Bugs Live?
Bed bugs generally hide during the day, coming out at night to feed on hosts such as humans, birds, and family pets. Feeding only takes about 10 minutes and is usually unnoticed by the host. Afterward, the bite may become inflamed and itchy, but many people never react. If no food source is available, bed bugs can wait for over 500 days.
Why are Bed Bugs a Pest?
While bed bugs do not actually transmit disease, they can definitely cause damage to your mental well-being. For instance, insomnia, stress, depression, and social isolation are all very real issues for those suffering from a bed bug infestation. When bed bugs keep you awake all night, it can begin to affect your stress and emotional levels. You may not be able to focus, become irritable, anxious, or even lose your appetite. If you suspect bed bugs… don’t wait! Give yourself peace of mind and call Modern Pest Services!
Adult cat fleas are about 1/8 of an inch (2.5mm) long. The body is flat laterally from side to side and has no wings. Cat fleas are dark brown or black and turn red when full of blood.
What is the Cat Flea Diet?
Adult cat fleas will begin to seek blood after the second day of birth but can live several months from the fat stored on their body. Cat fleas may transmit plague and there is very strong evidence that they may transmit typhus.
What is the Cat Flea Reproductive Cycle?
Female cat fleas lay 4-8 eggs after each blood meal, which means females can lay over 400-500 eggs during their lifetime.
Where do Cat Fleas Live?
Cat fleas can jump about 6″ vertically, so they can easily hitch rides on the legs and bodies of cats, kittens, and even humans.
Adult dog fleas are about 1/8″ (2.5mm) long. The body is flat laterally from side to side and has no wings. Dog fleas are dark brown or black, or red when full of blood.
What is the Dog Flea Diet?
Adult dog fleas will begin to seek blood after the second day of birth, but can live for several months from the fat stored on their body. Dog fleas may transmit plague, and there is very strong evidence that they may transmit typhus as well.
What is the Dog Flea Reproductive Cycle?
Female dog fleas lay 4-8 eggs after each blood meal, which means females can lay over 400-500 eggs during their lifetime.
Where do Dog Fleas Live?
Dog fleas can jump about 6″ vertically, so they can easily hitch rides on the legs and bodies of dogs and puppies as well as humans.
Fleas are about 1/8 inch long and black to reddish-brown. They are wingless and laterally flat.
What is the Flea Diet?
The flea’s main source of food is blood.
What is the Flea Reproductive Cycle?
Adult female fleas lay 4 – 8 eggs after each blood meal. The eggs fall wherever the host animals happen to be at the time. The eggs hatch in approximately 10 days. The flea goes through a complete metamorphosis, from egg to adult could take as little as 16 days or up to a year or more.
Where do Fleas Live?
Fleas generally prefer cats, dogs, rabbits, rats, etc., but will readily feed on humans as well. Adult fleas try to remain on the host animal for their lifetime. They can also be found in pet bedding, resting areas, carpet, and furniture.
Why are Fleas a Pest?
Biting, itching, and scratching. If you have ever dealt with fleas, then you understand they are definitely a nuisance. Not only are they a nuisance they can also be very difficult to get rid of. If you find yourself battling a flea infestation, don’t wait. Call Modern Pest Services today at 1-800-323-7378 or get an online quote for the comprehensive HomeCare Green program that controls over 50 common pests – including fleas!
Mosquitoes generally start appearing early in the summer months and can be a severe nuisance to any outdoor activity. However, mosquitoes can be more than just a nuisance. They can also be vectors of disease, such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Mosquito-borne diseases cause millions of deaths worldwide every year.
Mosquitoes are small insects, and average just over 6 mm in length. Their heads contain all the sensory equipment necessary to find and feed on people and animals. Their antennae have receptors that detect the carbon dioxide emitted by humans. The head also contains the maxillary palp, which picks up the odor of human sweat. The proboscis is the long, serrated mouthpart that is used to pierce skin and suck blood. There are two tubes in the proboscis, one that injects saliva containing an anti-coagulant and painkiller, and one that draws the blood.
What is the Mosquito Diet?
Mosquitoes don’t suck blood for their own nourishment. It’s used as a protein source for their eggs. Male and female mosquitoes eat nectar and other plant sugars for food.
What is the Mosquito Reproductive Cycle?
A female mosquito only needs a few inches of water to deposit her eggs. After the eggs hatch, larvae develop quickly in things like bird baths, roof gutters, and even rain puddles. They then turn into pupae. After about four days, the adult mosquito emerges. Males find females by the sound of their wingbeats. After mating, they live three to five days. Females mate once, but continue laying eggs every time they feed on blood. They can live up to a month or two.
Where do Mosquitoes Live?
Because mosquitoes prefer stagnant water in which to lay their eggs, they most commonly infest wetland habitats like ponds, marshes, and swamps. But they’re capable of living in almost any environment except for extreme cold.
What Is The Modern Solution?
A complete mosquito control program not only eliminates breeding sources but also includes long-term prevention. Modern Pest Services’ Homecare Vector Program is an effective mosquito management option. Modern Pest concentrates on eliminating the source of the mosquito breeding areas. This is done by performing an in-depth inspection to identify areas of concern. An application is then applied to reduce any adult mosquito populations and prevent further reproduction. The most common mosquito breeding areas are under foliage, wooded areas, shaded, damp areas around the home, and any area where the bulk of mosquito populations rest during the day.