A growing city in the heart of Texas, Midland-Odessa offers residents many opportunities to explore museums, cultural institutions, and natural beauty. Residents also enjoy local parks, restaurants, and locally owned businesses.
However, these areas can also attract pests that crawl, scurry, slither, or fly. These pests can cause health problems and expensive damage to homes.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are common, flying insects that are found all over the world. Over 3,500 species of mosquitoes exist, ranging from nuisance pests to dangerous disease carriers. These bugs feed on animal blood for protein, and some types of mosquitoes are also pathogens (germs that cause diseases) themselves. Mosquitoes spread these germs by biting people and animals.
Most mosquito bites occur at dusk and after dark, while the pests rest by day in vegetation and around homes and structures. Female mosquitoes have long, piercing mouthparts called proboscises that they use to siphon blood for egg production. Male mosquitoes have hairier antennae and do not bite.
Like many insect pests, mosquitoes thrive in moist habitats. Suitable breeding sites include standing water, ponds, lakes, swamps, marshes, and wetlands. Mosquitoes breed in still water, then molt three times before becoming pupa. The pupa stage lasts two to four weeks before the adult mosquito emerges.
A successful Pest Control in Odessa TX strategy includes eliminating the areas where mosquitoes breed and rest, as well as preventing them from entering the home. Pest professionals often apply insecticides to breeding and resting sites by fogging. This method is a more targeted approach than broader lawn spraying, and it allows the Pest Control in Odessa TX professional to minimize environmental impact. Pest professionals are also on the cutting edge of mosquito-related scientific research, and they apply the latest control methods to Odessa homes.
Wasps
Although they often appear as a threat, most yellowjackets are not dangerous. They sting only to defend their nests or attack prey that inadvertently invades their territory. In fact, wasps have a surprisingly important role in the ecology of our local environment. They are predators of insects that damage crops, and they also control the populations of some pest species.
Concern about yellowjackets is based on their aggressive behavior at food sources and their defending of their colonies. They are scavengers and will crawl into soda cans at picnic sites. They can sting the lips or throat of people who swat them. The stings of yellowjackets, like those of bees, can be very painful. They may even cause an allergic reaction in some individuals.
In the fall, when food supplies decline, scavenging wasps become especially cranky. Their constant swatting can annoy football tailgate parties and picnickers.
To control wasps and hornets, you can use standard aerosol sprays that are labeled for the specific wasp or hornet. Follow the directions carefully to avoid raising the ire of the entire nest. For ground nests, dusts are more effective than liquid insecticides. If you decide to remove a nest yourself, cover the entrance with soil and wait until night when most of the wasps are asleep in their cells. For nests in walls or attics, you will need professional help to find and treat the nest.
Ticks
Ticks are external parasites that latch onto hosts to suck blood. While some ticks cause only itchy bites, others can carry dangerous diseases that affect humans and pets. The blacklegged or deer tick, for example, can spread Lyme disease and other illnesses.
Tick season lasts from March to October, but the pests may be active year round in warm climates. To reduce your risk, keep dogs and children away from brushy areas and wooded spaces where the pests often live. When in these areas, walk in the center of trails to limit contact with trees, bushes, and tall grasses. Wear protective clothing, such as light-colored long pants, shirts, and socks that are tucked into boots or shoes. Tape the area where pants meet socks to prevent ticks from crawling under clothing.
If you find a tick on your body, remove it immediately using tweezers. If you experience a rash, fever, or other symptoms within 48 hours of removing the tick, contact your doctor.
The right Odessa pest control specialist can help you achieve a pest-free home. Your local Orkin specialist will provide ongoing monitoring to prevent new pests from entering your house and offer suggested treatments if needed. All solutions are backed by the Orkin Guarantee. Your Odessa Orkin Pro is also always researching and developing new products and solutions for local pests, including termites.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are parasites that feed on human blood. They thrive wherever people live and travel, including in Midland-Odessa homes. The insects are excellent hitchhikers, latching onto bags, luggage, clothing, shoes and other items. Frequent travel, improved treatment methods that target other pests instead of the insects and a general lack of awareness have contributed to a rise in the problem in recent years.
Although it is sometimes claimed that a telltale odor helps with detection, the smell of bed bugs is only noticeable in extreme infestations. In most cases, the best way to detect them is to look for dark spots on sheets and mattress seams. Those spots are fecal deposits from the insects’ excrement. Shed skins and egg cases are also common signs of an infestation.
Bed bug infestations are difficult to control. They require thorough cleaning and inspection by both residents and landlords. Bedding must be washed and dried completely, and the bugs’ hiding places should be sprayed with a surface pesticide that is registered to control them.
If you suspect a bed bug infestation, contact your pest control company as soon as possible. Infestations spread quickly, and they can be hard to eradicate without the help of a professional. You can reduce your risk by avoiding secondhand furniture, especially beds and mattresses, and by clearly marking any used items that you bring into your home.