Stinging and biting insects in North Mississippi can really put a damper on outdoor fun. Unfortunately, our region’s warm climate and diverse habitats make these insects highly prevalent.
We deal with everything from mosquitoes and ticks to wasps and chiggers…and plenty in between.
In this article, we’ll talk about how outdoor pest control in North MS can keep these pests from ruining your time outside.
While there are obviously DIY options for pest control, these simply aren’t as effective as professional treatments.
North Mississippi’s warm climate and diverse habitats mean there is a diverse array of stinging and biting insects here. Some of the most common include mosquitoes, wasps, fire ants, fleas, ticks, and chiggers.
Because of the prevalence of these pests, it’s hard to avoid encounters. But it’s particularly frustrating when biting and stinging insects show up in your own backyard. That’s why we recommend pest control for biting insects.
You and your family should be able to enjoy your yard without worries.
Both biting and stinging insects can show up in North Mississippi backyards. While biting insects feed on blood, stinging insects inject venom from their stinger.
Often, these pests are identified only after you’ve been bitten or stung, as people don’t always catch them in action.
Biting insects usually leave behind itchy welts that might show up in a scattered pattern on the skin. Stinging insects have a more localized reaction, often just in one spot on the skin. A sting is usually sharp and causes immediate swelling.
Some of the common stinging insects in MS include wasps, bees, and fire ants (though fire ants sting AND bite!).
Generally speaking, stinging insects tend to be larger and have identifiable stingers that they use as a defense mechanism, along with the venom that they inject.
Some of the common biting insects in North Mississippi include mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, chiggers, and fire ants.
Biting insects are often smaller, and bites may actually go unnoticed in the moment. They don’t usually leave behind the same sharp pain as a stinging insect. Within the moment, you may not notice that you’re being bitten by a flea, tick, or mosquito, but you’ll see the evidence later.
Fire ants are a little bit different. Even though they are very small, they tend to attack in groups. They’ll bite to latch on, but it’s actually their venomous sting that causes pain.
Any insect that bites or stings can be dangerous to people or pets if they are allergic. Plus, many biting insects in North Mississippi can transmit diseases. Biting insects can pick up pathogens from infected humans or animals when feeding on their blood. They can then transfer this to the next victim.
Some of the pests most concerning for disease transmission include fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.
Fire ant stings can also be very dangerous as they attack in large numbers when their mounds are disturbed. Even if you are not allergic to the venom, multiple stings can be dangerous (particularly for children and pets).
Mosquito, flea and tick control for homes is important, as these pests can transmit dangerous diseases, as mentioned above.
At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we have options for these pests. Our mosquito control program (March-October) is excellent for mosquitoes and ticks, as the products used work on both pests.
For fleas specifically, we recommend a 3x/year granular application to prevent establishment in your lawn. This is particularly important if you have pets, as they are most likely to pick up fleas and can bring them into your home.
At Lawn & Pest Solutions, wasps are included in our Quarterly Pest Control as an exterior pest (this includes an exposed nest less than 12 feet high).
But wasps can cost more when they build in attics, eaves, and upper stories of homes. It is common for wasps to find an entry point and build large nests in the attics of homes in our area.
They have also been known to enter through exterior recessed lighting and build large nests.
These two situations are labor-intensive, but we can help homeowners with this. It takes some expertise for hidden nests. A can of wasp spray simply doesn't cut it. Plus, it can be dangerous dealing with nests.
Wasp and hornet control in Mississippi is definitely a situation that you want to leave in the hands of a pro.
It’s not that DIY pest control doesn’t work at all. It’s just that they’re often not powerful enough to be effective across a broader scale…or for a longer amount of time. Many DIY products wear off quickly, failing to provide the long-term coverage you want or need.
Products purchased at a store, such as pest control sprays, simply will not work as well as a professional-grade product. This might mean you need to apply more products and more applications to achieve the same coverage that a professional could with fewer products and applications.
Of course, it’s not just about the products used but also about understanding and knowing how to apply them. Sometimes homeowners inadvertently make mistakes or take shortcuts that also limit the effectiveness of the products they’re using. This could include mixing a product incorrectly or applying it improperly.
Effective pest control for biting insects (and stinging ones, too!) is important.
It's more than a can of bug spray. First, our pros spot ways to prevent pests from entering homes in the first place. We know that homeowners want to know how to prevent insect bites at home. That starts with preventing them from entering your living spaces.
Once we perform a thorough evaluation, we identify some things that we can correct ourselves and others that we communicate to the homeowner to handle.
Each visit we perform is different, as we’ll adjust applications to specific pest needs and the time of year. We also use targeted bait applications in addition to preventative sprays. All of this helps to keep multiple pests away from the home.
Yes, unfortunately, biting insects can take up residence inside your home. Fleas and bed bugs are the two most common, and they both require a blood meal to reproduce, meaning they’re always in search of their next meal.
Multiple hosts and a controlled environment with little to no predators mean these two insects can run rampant.
Do not DIY these two pests in particular, as you will only make them worse.
Other common biting/stinging pests that can live indoors are wasps and spiders. Wasps may look to build nests in dark and undisturbed spaces like attics and between walls.
A targeted approach with the right products is the safest way to control insects around kids and pets.
Baits are easily concealed and offer minimal exposure to pesticides at very low concentrations. Compare this to a space spray with a DIY aerosol can. You’re probably getting more exposure to products through store-bought or DIY pest control than you would with a pro.
The biggest piece of advice we’d offer is that you don't have to wait until you have a full-blown infestation to invest in professional pest control. In fact, you should not wait until it gets that bad, as by that point it will be much more challenging (and likely costly) to control the problem.
You can choose pest control for biting and stinging insects in order to prevent these pests from becoming a problem.
Bottom line? If you want the best, most effective indoor and outdoor pest control in North MS, we recommend hiring a pro. When it comes to biting and stinging insects, in particular, you want to make sure that you are fully covered. These pests will not only disrupt your time outside but also cause harm.
At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we offer a full array of professional pest control services to cover all the pests that have you worried. Whether it’s wasps, mosquitoes or anything in between, we have solutions.
At the end of the day, we want to help you achieve peace of mind so you don’t have to stress about pests lurking around your home. You deserve to relax and enjoy your free time to the fullest!
Ready to learn why Lawn & Pest Solutions could be your choice for the best pest control services for your home and landscape in Tupelo, Oxford or New Albany, MS? We’d love to learn more about you. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan perfect for you and your home.