ABOUT BLOOD SUCKERS
Of the world's 10 million insect species, only 14,000 feed on blood. Of those, only a few hundred regularly bite humans. Those that do, create severe discomfort and possibly transmit serious diseases to their human hosts.
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Blood sucking insects tend to have a proboscis that acts like a straw to draw blood from the human body. The result of the blood draw is a stinging sensation for the human.
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In addition to the psychological effects blood suckers leave on humans, they are also known to carry diseases like west Nile virus, malaria, typhus, Lyme and plague.
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Most of these insects need to be treated professionally to stop their spread. Call AXIOM today to get help.
BED BUG
Bed bugs are commonly found in beds, but they can also be found anywhere humans spend a lot of time — think couches, hotels and airplanes.
Bed bugs feed on the blood of any warm-blooded animal, but they target humans most often because we have exposed skin, making it easier to bite.
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Bed bug bites are painful as they inject the skin with a saliva that keeps blood from clotting and an anesthetic that keeps humans from initially knowing they've been bitten.
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While they don't spread disease, bed bugs are seriously hard to get rid of and best left to a professional. If not treated and eradicated correctly, bed bugs can easily re-infest.
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FLEA
Blame your pet if you notice fleas in your home. Fleas consider your pet to be an all-you-can-eat buffet as they feed on the blood of domestic animals, humans, birds, reptiles and rodents.
Fleas are no joy to have because they transfer easily between pets and humans with a single leap. And it's an explosive leap — a flea accelerates at 33.3 times the acceleration rate of the space shuttle or approximately 100 times the force of gravity as it jumps from ground to host.
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​There are over 2,000 known species and subspecies of fleas, but the cat flea is the main culprit in most U.S. pet flea cases. This flea is known to reproduce indoors.
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If your pet shares your bed or walks across carpet, fleas can easily be left behind, looking to stalk a human. Do yourself a favor and call an Axiom professional today to control these itchy pests. Learn more about our flea treatment program.
HEAD LICE
There's a myth that head lice only occurs in dirty homes. In fact, of the nearly 12 million cases of head lice each year, a good percentage comes from homes that very clean.
Head lice normally spread though head-to-head contact and much of it happens at schools in children aged 3 to 12 years old. Sharing a hat or towel with or resting your head against a surface used by someone who already has head lice can cause it to spread.
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​An itchy scalp with a crawling sensation are symptoms of a head lice infestation. To authenticate an infestation, however, you need to see bugs or eggs that appear to be glued to the hair.
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A head lice infestation requires immediate attention so lice does not spread to other family members.
MITE
There are thousands of mite species, many of which cannot even be seen by the naked eye. Mites pose a multitude of problems for humans because some are parasitic, biting and feeding on humans and animals; some leave behind toxic droppings causing respiratory problems, and others are agricultural pests that denude trees and plants.
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If you have mites, you'll need professional help to rid your home and property of these irritating pests.
Parasitic mites — like chiggers and chicken mites — attack animal and human hosts causing severe skin irritation. In animals, mites cause mange. Humans who come in contact with chiggers can contract serious diseases.
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Dust mites, while non parasitic, live in mattresses, upholstery and carpet; feed off of dead human skin cells; and are the source for allergens because of harmful enzymes in their droppings.
MOSQUITO
Mosquitoes are a small pest that can cause big problems. Lately mosquito bites have been tied to a number of diseases that affect both humans and pets.
Mosquitoes are known to spread vector-borne diseases including West Nile virus, heart worm disease, malaria, encephalitis and the Zika virus.
If you have a water feature, standing water in your gutters or shrubs, you have a perfect mosquito habitat that allows these blood suckers to gain in population.
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​You'll know you have mosquitoes when you hear that familiar buzzing around sunset and sunrise, or while you're in shady areas. They take over your yard and rob you from enjoying the outdoors.
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Axiom technicians are specially trained to spot mosquito breeding and resting areas. They’ll treat the exterior areas they can and alert you to harboring areas you can correct. Learn more about our service and call today.
TICK
Ticks are part of the arachnid family and they survive by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds or reptiles. If infected with bacteria, a biting tick poses a risk to human and pet health.
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Ticks cannot jump or fly, so the only way they can catch a ride on a host is to crawl to the top of a blade of grass and flail their arms until they catch the hair of an animal or the leg of a human.
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Ticks thrive in backyards, in tall grasses, on ground cover and around woodpiles where rodents, small mammals and deer are active. Deer are a favorite host of ticks.
Ticks are credited with the spread of Lyme disease, borrelia miyamotoi, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other viruses that create flu-like symptoms.​
VAMPIRE
Vampires subsist on feeding on the life essence of the living. They have long fangs that pierce the skin immediately on contact. They are true blood suckers who live only in dark spaces.
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Nocturnal by nature, vampires are often ruddy, purplish, white or black in color with haunting red eyes. They are known to appear and disappear at the blink of an eye. Some species are mistaken for bats, because some vampire families also have wings.
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​Vampires live for hundreds of years. Their preferred bite location is on the neck and they will leave telltale fang marks as they drain humans of their blood.
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A vampire infestation is rare, but your Axiom professional has the skills and tools to help you combat them.