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GENESIS TERMITE & PEST CONTROL
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mosquitos, fleas & ticks -Leola and Beyond
MOSQUITOS
Mosquito Risks to Humans:
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West Nile virus is the main mosquito borne disease in Pennsylvania. Most people who catch it have mild or no symptoms, but it can cause serious neurological illness, especially in older adults and those with weaker immune systems. PA sees West Nile activity in mosquitoes and people most summers.
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Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is rare but very serious when it occurs. It's an occasional presence in the region and worth naming for that reason.
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Bites and reactions. Even without disease, bites cause itching, swelling, and allergic reactions, and they can turn a backyard, patio, or evening event miserable.
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Heartworm is the big one. Mosquitoes transmit heartworm larvae to dogs (and cats), and it's a potentially fatal disease - which is exactly why vets push year round heartworm prevention. Cutting the mosquito population around the home lowers that exposure.
Mosquito Risks to Pets:
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Where they breed: Mosquitoes need only a small amount of standing water to reproduce - clogged gutters, birdbaths, buckets, old tires, kiddie pools, plant saucers, tarps, and low spots that hold rain. Most of the mosquitoes biting you were born within a few hundred feet of where they're biting.
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When: Peak season runs late spring through fall, with activity heaviest at dawn and dusk and rising through the hot, humid stretches of summer.
What to Look For:
Why DIY Doesn't Work:
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With mosquitoes, sprays and citronella treat the symptom, not the source. Foggers and repellents clear an area for a few hours, but mosquitoes keep coming as long as there's standing water to breed in—and it takes only a bottle cap's worth. Those breeding sites hide in plain sight (clogged gutters, plant saucers, tarps, forgotten buckets), and missing a few keeps the cycle going. Store-bought products also rarely reach the shaded spots where adults rest by day, so the population bounces right back.
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Lasting control means knocking out breeding sites, treating the shaded harborage where adults rest, and staying ahead of the season—not a spray that wears off by evening.
FLEAS
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Itchy, irritating bites - small, red, itchy bumps, usually clustered around the ankles and lower legs.
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Allergic reactions - some people react more strongly, with swelling, hives, or intense itching around the bites.
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Secondary infection - scratching bites can break the skin and lead to infection.
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Disease transmission - less common, but fleas can carry illnesses that affect people (historically including murine typhus and, rarely, others), which is why a heavy infestation isn't something to ignore.
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Household stress and disruption - beyond the bites, a persistent flea problem affects the whole family's comfort and peace of mind at home.
Flea Risks to Humans:
Flea Risks to Pets:
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Constant itching and irritation - flea bites make pets scratch, bite, and groom excessively, leaving them miserable.
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Flea allergy dermatitis - many pets are allergic to flea saliva, and a single bite can trigger intense itching, raw skin, scabbing, and hair loss.
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Skin infections - all that scratching breaks the skin and opens the door to secondary bacterial infections.
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Tapeworms - pets that swallow an infected flea while grooming can develop tapeworms, a common flea-borne parasite.
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Anemia - heavy infestations can drain enough blood to cause anemia, which is especially dangerous for puppies, kittens, and small or elderly animals.
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Restlessness and hair loss - ongoing discomfort shows up as agitation, poor sleep, and thinning coat.
What to Look For:
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The flea itself - tiny (about 1/8 inch), dark reddish brown, flat bodied, and wingless; they jump remarkably far rather than fly.
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Pets scratching, biting, or grooming excessively - often the first sign, along with restlessness or hair loss.
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Flea bites on people - small, red, itchy bumps, usually clustered around the ankles and lower legs.
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"Flea dirt" - tiny black specks (flea droppings) in pet fur or bedding that turn reddish-brown when wet; a key giveaway.
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Fleas in carpets and fabric - check pet bedding, carpets, rugs, upholstery, and along baseboards; you may see them jump when disturbed.
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Fast multiplying numbers - a few quickly become many, since a single flea lays dozens of eggs a day.
Why DIY Doesn't Work:
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Life cycle hides most of the problem - only ~5% of a flea population is visible adult fleas at any time; the rest are eggs, larvae, and pupae buried in carpet, cracks, and yard debris.
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Pupae resist treatment - they cocoon themselves against most insecticides and can lie dormant for weeks, hatching later when they sense a host nearby. Looks like the treatment failed; it's really just the next generation emerging.
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One treatment isn't enough - effective control needs repeat treatments timed to the life cycle to catch new hatchlings. DIY is usually a single spray or fogger.
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Surface products don't reach hidden stages - sprays and foggers kill what's exposed, not what's embedded in fibers or soil.
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It's a three front problem - pets, home, and yard all need treatment together, or fleas just re-enter from whichever area was missed.
TICKS
Tick Risks to Humans:
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Lyme disease - the big one, especially here in PA. Spread mainly by the blacklegged (deer) tick. Early signs include a bull's eye rash, fever, fatigue, and joint aches; left untreated it can cause longer term joint, heart, and nervous system problems.
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Other tick borne illnesses - anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis all show up in this region too, usually with flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, body aches).
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Rocky Mountain spotted fever - less common but serious, and treatable when caught early.
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Alpha-gal syndrome - a red meat allergy that can develop after a Lone Star tick bite. Still relatively rare here but increasingly on people's radar.
Tick Risk to Pets:
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Lyme disease - dogs are very susceptible; signs include limping, lethargy, swollen joints, and loss of appetite. There's a canine Lyme vaccine, which is worth a mention if you want to nudge readers toward their vet.
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Anaplasmosis & ehrlichiosis - similar flu-like symptoms in dogs, and can become chronic if missed.
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Tick paralysis - a toxin in some tick saliva that can cause weakness or paralysis, which usually reverses once the tick is removed.
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Anemia - a heavy infestation can drain enough blood to make a small animal seriously ill.
What to Look For:
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Ticks on people and pets. Check after time outdoors - especially warm, hidden spots: scalp and hairline, behind ears, neck, armpits, waistline, and behind knees. On pets, check ears, toes, under collars, and around the face.
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Attached ticks. Sizes range from a poppy seed (nymphs) to a swollen pea once engorged. They embed head-first and don't brush off like dirt.
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Bite reactions. A red spot at the bite, or an expanding "bull's-eye" rash days later - an early Lyme warning worth a doctor's visit.
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Pet behavior. Excessive scratching, licking, or head-shaking can mean a hidden tick; watch for later lameness, lethargy, or loss of appetite.
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High risk zones on your property. Tall grass, leaf litter, brushy borders, and the line where lawn meets woods - the spots to check yourself and your pets most carefully after being in them.
Why DIY Doesn't Work:
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Ticks are hard to control yourself because the problem lives in your landscape, not in a tip. They shelter in specific spots - leaf litter, tall grass, brushy borders, and where lawn meets woods - that store bought sprays rarely reach well or for long. They're also constantly restocked by the deer, mice, and other wildlife that drop new ticks right back into the yard. Treat the wrong zones or the wrong time of season and you leave gaps exactly where ticks are questing - and with Lyme pressure this high, those gaps carry real health stakes.
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Lasting control means targeting the right habitat zones, treating on the right seasonal timing, and making the yard less tick friendly - not one hardware store spray that misses the hot spots
mosquito, flea & tick FAQs
What can I do about mosquitoes and ticks in my yard?
Start by removing standing water (even a bottle cap's worth breeds mosquitoes) and keeping grass and brush trimmed, since ticks shelter in tall, shady vegetation and along the line where lawn meets woods. Those steps help but rarely solve it alone. Professional barrier treatments knock down adult mosquitoes and reduce ticks in the zones where they hide, and recurring service keeps your yard protected through the season. This matters here: ticks in our area can carry Lyme disease, and mosquitoes can carry West Nile virus. Ask us about seasonal mosquito and tick control.
Are ticks in Lancaster County dangerous?
Yes, ticks are a real health concern in our area. The blacklegged (deer) tick spreads Lyme disease, whose early signs include a bull's eye rash, fever, fatigue, and joint aches, and if untreated it can cause longer-term problems. Other tick borne illnesses like anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis also show up here. Dogs are especially susceptible too. Because ticks live in your landscape and are constantly restocked by wildlife, lasting control means treating the right habitat zones at the right time of season. We can help make your yard less tick friendly.
Why do fleas keep coming back after I treat my pet?
Because treating the pet is only one of three fronts. At any given time, only about 5% of a flea population is adult fleas on your pet; the rest are eggs, larvae, and pupae buried in carpet, cracks, and yard debris. The pupae resist most products and can lie dormant for weeks, then hatch later, which looks like the treatment failed when it's really the next generation emerging. Lasting control treats the pet, the home, and the yard together, with repeat treatments timed to the flea life cycle. Contact us and we'll break the cycle.
When should I start mosquito and tick service?
Early spring is ideal, before populations build for the season. Getting ahead of the first generation keeps numbers down all summer, where starting mid-season means playing catch up against bugs that are already established. That said, it’s never too late to call, we can knock down an active problem whenever you reach out, then keep it from coming back.
How long does mosquito and tick treatment last?
A single treatment typically keeps working for about three to four weeks, which is why recurring seasonal service works best. Each visit knocks down what’s active now and stays ahead of the next wave, so your yard stays usable all season instead of just the week after we come out. We’ll set a schedule that fits your yard and your summer.