Back-to-School Boogie - Can You Jive with Bugs and Their Bites?

The weather is starting to get a little cooler; the sun is setting a little earlier. Most kids will soon be cracking the books to learn about the joys of trigonometry, the battles of the American Civil War, or the fun behind Spanish verb conjugations. Chances are, however, they will not be learning about the creepy crawlies that may be lurking in their lunchboxes, lockers, or knapsacks. Pests that have a tendency to spread lice, bed bugs, and fleas.

Most Common Pests and Their Bites

• Deer ticks, also known as black leg ticks, are about the size of a sesame seed. They are found throughout the central and eastern United States, wherever their favorite hosts (deer or rodents) may be. They're known for the distinct red bull's eye rash they leave if you get bitten. Deer ticks can carry Lyme disease and may be encountered in playgrounds. (PICTURE OF BITE AND BUG)
• Bed bugs are incredibly difficult to get rid of, and cases seem to spread as the kids go back to school. These itchy critters are great travelers and many times go from backpack to backpack or lunch pail to lunch pail. Be sure to clean out your backpack each night and check around the seams to avoid bringing bed bugs into your home. (PICTURE OF BITE AND BIG)
• Ants see the crumbs in your child’s backpack as a holiday feast. Be sure to wash out any lunchboxes as soon as your child gets home to prevent an infestation in your home. (PICTURE OF BITE AND BUG)
• Head lice are small critters that are red-brown in color and have six legs. Lice have a tendency to attach to children’s hair.
• Brown recluse spiders are some of the most venomous spiders in the United States. If bitten by a brown recluse spider, an ulcer will form with a blue center, surrounded by a white and red ring. If a brown recluse has bitten someone, that person should seek medical attention immediately. (PICTURE OF BITE AND BUG).
• While most people associate fleas with pets, they can be a terrible nuisance for your family and your home. Fleas grow to about 1/8 of an inch and have a hard exoskeleton. Fleabites leave behind itchy, red marks. A flea infestation can be difficult and unpleasant to control.

Contact a Florida Pest Control Expert Today

Knowing the signs of these pests is the first step to controlling an infestation, but sometimes more assistance is required. If the school year rings synonymous with unwanted pests in your home, it’s time to hire Hughes Exterminators to have a look at the problem.