Ticks and static electricity.

For centuries cats, dogs and people have been victim of tick bites. Certain questions arise from this. For example, how do they attach to their new host? Commonly known as "questing", ticks hang out on the end of a branch or blade of grass eith their legs streched out waiting for a new host to come close enough for them to latch onto. This is very limiting to ticks as they do not jump or fly. Now scientists found a new way ticks can successfully find a new host and that is through static electricity!

Thats right! New studies show that ticks can zoom through the air using static electricity. Although the distance is fairly short, "it's the equivalent of us jumping three or four flights of stairs in one go" said study author Sam English. Humans and animals naturally pick up this static as we go about our day. Those charges are just enough to get the ticks moving towards their next blood meal. The best way to prevent being a victim of a tick is to keep using repellent. Also make sure to contact your local professionals at Savi Pest Solutions for a chemical treatment of your lawn to avoid dog and cat bites.

For more information visit https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/ticks-use-static-electricity-study-current-biology?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0S46BFZX2ZZ78dzbPtteDiI953UIuXsgh4u9q0W6mubN4nYgOSe0WnCIY

Mosquitoes: The Nipper

In Illinois, Mosquito treatments are essential. Mosquitos are known vectors of at least three forms of encephalitis. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that can be caused by arboviruses or by other types of viruses. Encephalitis usually affects very young children or older adults. Some persons may have mild symptoms, such as a fever and headache. Severe infection may cause rapid onset of severe headache, high fever, muscle aches, stiffness in the back of the neck, problems with muscle coordination, disorientation, convulsions and coma. How can I prevent mosquito activity near my home?

Mosquito breeding sites are areas where standing water is present for 7-10 days. The first step is reducing the amount of standing water for mosquitoes around your home. This includes old tires, cans, ceramic pots, plastic containers, and other unused containers that may hold water. Drilling small holes in garbage containers that stay outside will help the water flow out of them, preventing it from standing at the bottom and making a breeding site for mosquitoes. Cleaning out any clogged gutters, especially if they have any type of leaf build up will reduce breeding sited. In most cases a chemical treatment of all shrubs, bushes, trees, and grass will be needed to see a reduction in the population of mosquitos. Please contact us for a quote.

For more information, visit the link below:

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/psreduction.htm

The Hitchhiker

Plan on traveling soon and staying at a hotel or motel? If so, here are some tips to make sure your trip is all you dreamed it would be instead of turning into a nightmare.

So you booked this hotel room and the only thing you're thinking about is to relax and enjoy the space, but there is one thing you should do first; check for bedbugs!

As soon as you enter the room place your luggage in the bathroom or on a luggage rack.

Always keep your luggage off the floor until the room has been examined. There are a couple things you are going to need: a flashlight and good eyesight. Most people don't carry around a flashlight but most of us do have cell phones. Turn on your flashlight app and head to the bed. Pull back the linens to expose the mattress. Check all four corners of the mattress (they love to hide there). While using your flashlight pull back the seams and check the crevices. You are looking for a small reddish-brown oval shaped bug. If bedbugs are present, you may also find dark blood spots or little black dots. These little black dots are bedbug fecal matter from the bedbugs digesting blood from the previous guest (gross!). Also, check all soft surfaces that includes any upholstered furniture as well as the curtains. If you didn't spot any bedbugs and/or their fecal matter, kickback and

enjoy your stay, but if you spot these pests, grab your luggage and hightail it out of there! These hitchhikers can follow you back home in your luggage and on your clothing.