TICKS
The creepy crawly that carries an unpleasant, though very much deserved, reputation, ticks are becoming a more prominent issue in Ontario. Best known for being the carrier of Lyme Disease, black legged ticks are an unwelcome and dangerous problem of the outdoors. Lyme disease is a worrisome prospect for both people and animals. Preventing ticks is a major concern, with their populations spreading and increasing more rapidly due to warmer than average winter temperatures over the last 2 decades. Diseases such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus are now to be reported to local officers of health here in Ontario, as the spread of these diseases typically follow a rise in Lyme Disease. The Black-legged Tick, also known as the Deer Tick, is the culprit of all this fuss. What mainly makes this arachnid dangerous is its small size, and since its bite is usually painless, a person can miss the tick entirely if not looked for diligently. Protecting those you love from ticks is becoming a more pressing, and necessary concern of life, and guarding your property is of the utmost importance. Spraying for ticks is a new concept for most individuals, and is an ever improving condition of safety. Spraying barriers that kill ticks if they cross it is an effective way to kill large numbers of ticks, thus lowering the tick population. Whether it’s your home, cottage, or lake house, being able to allow your loved ones to play in your yard knowing you’ve done the best you could against ticks is a vital component of daily living.
MOSQUITOES
Numbered among the most annoying bugs, the mosquito causes the frustration and anxiety of millions of Ontario residents each year. Carriers of West Nile virus, among other diseases, mosquitoes are most well known for the itchy bumps they leave after attempting to feed for blood. Hated for their buzzy whine, mosquitoes are also known for spoiling many an outdoor campfire and event. Ferocious particularly around bodies of water, mosquitoes congregate by the thousands to find a host to feed on. A most frustrating insect, prohibiting these little creatures from your property is a most welcome addition to any home or cottage.
FLIES
Another all too well known insect, flies (cluster fly, housefly, blowfly etc.) are an unpleasant, annoying, and unwelcome invader to any home or cottage. Due to their unclean nature, flies are apt to spread diseases, which leads to food being disposed of if left exposed for too long. Congregating in sheltered areas in search for food, flies are a common frustration for anyone, as they quickly can soil a surface with their unsanitary habitats. Barnyards draw millions of these flying frustrations with animals also falling victim to the ever obnoxious pursuit of these insects.
WASPS/HORNETS
An insect that doesn’t need an introduction, the wasp and hornet are a helpful pollinator. However, due to their aggressive nature, and many people suffering allergies to their painful stings, wasps and hornets are not as beneficial as the danger they pose to people. Commonly building nests in semi sheltered areas, in wall cavities, under decks, inside sheds, and even underground in gardens, many people run foul of these bugs due to accidentally disturbing the nest. Another danger arises when people try to remove or destroy the nest without the proper tools or knowledge, and end up being stung mercilessly for their efforts. Unlike their cousin, the honeybee who can only sting once, wasps and hornets can sting repeatedly and will even use their jaws to gain a better grip to sting even further. Proper removal of these dangerous insects is important as they can sometimes return to the damaged nest and repair it.
SPIDERS
A creature that many people have a phobia of, the spider is a beneficial arachnid to Ontario’s ecosystem. However, due to its web building habits, which cause great messes in and around peoples homes, the spider requires control. Particularly near bodies of water where their insect prey congregate, spiders cause much distress for homeowners as they make messes on decks and porches by excessive web-building and dropping the empty shells of their prey. Spiders, despite the benefit to the area around them, need to be controlled to avoid over populating around homes, shops, or cottages.