We love the rain for our flowers, gardens and yards but the downside comes in the form of ant piles and mosquitoes. These pesky insects can harm your kids and pets. For some it’s a mild nuisance but for others bites from either of these can be serious.
Mosquitoes can bring more through its bite than just a little, itchy welt. In fact, these little guys carry and spread deadly diseases, such as the Chikungunya virus, West Nile virus, and the Zika Virus, on a daily basis
Mosquitoes are commonly out and about during dusk and dawn, so perhaps avoiding outdoor activities during those times may help. Last but not least, fans can break up carbon dioxide and confuse mosquitoes. Also since mosquitoes are weak flyers, the breeze will cause them to be unable to land. The EPA has some helpful hints to prevent mosquito bites. https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/tips-prevent-mosquito-bites.
A fire ant mound can be an attractive curiosity for an unsuspecting dog or cat. Fire ants have the potential to seriously injure or even kill a small animal if the animal is not able to move away from the sand mound. Once a potential danger is spotted, the colony of ants immediately attack with speed and ferocity injecting a poisonous alkaloid into the victim.
If your pet has been bitten, here are a few tips on what to do next: (from pethelpful.com)
- Never hose down your pet with fire ants. The ants will only panic and bite down harder.
- Keep an eye on the bite. If the area swells up, this may indicate a possible infection that requires treatment.
- Try to limit your pet biting at the area. Fire ant bites seem to be painful at first and terribly itchy afterward. Apply ice packs and a baking soda and water paste to give relief. If needed, invest in an Elizabethan collar.
- Always keep Benadryl on hand, especially for signs of allergic reactions.
- Use common sense and call your vet promptly if something does not look right.
- Contact a professional to treat your yard for ants.
Your yard is supposed to be a safe place for play. Keep it that way!
If you wish to learn about our effective ant and mosquito treatment, call us today at (972)291-8216 or (817)293-LAWN! Have a bite-free summer!