Most of us are familiar with common house hold pests. We know what spiders are. We know what cockroaches are. We’re familiar with ants, bees, mice, and more.
But these common pests are not the only ones we need to watch out for here in Staten Island, *ESPECIALLY* this year. The changing weather and migration patterns means that this year there are two new pests we have to keep an eye out for more than any other year in the past.
Let’s talk about them.
- Tick Season
Ticks have always been an issue in New York City, but experts believe that this year looks like it could be the worst tick season in Staten Island’s history.
The tick that we have to be most concerned about is the blacklegged tick, also known as deer ticks. These ticks have been in NYC a while, but the “high risk” areas keep moving north as the weather warms annually, which means that there are more of these ticks now than ever before.
These are also the ticks that are best known for carrying Lyme Disease, making them extra dangerous, and they are the “size of a poppy seed,” which means that they’re also harder to find on your body if you’re not looking for them. Your risk of Lyme disease goes up dramatically if they’re on your body for more than 24 hours, so if you’re not looking for and treating these ticks, you’re putting yourself and your family in danger. Keep an eye out.
- Asian Needle Ants
Brand new and potentially upsetting, there’s an invasive species in the area and while we’re not sure if we’ve seen many of them yet, we have to stay vigilant.
Right now it is bee and wasp season, and many of our calls are for those stinging pests. But recently, a new invasive pest has come to Staten Island – the “Asian needle ant.”
As the name implies, it’s an ant that can sting, and the sting is painful – like a needle.
It’s not necessarily dangerous unless you already have an allergy, but it can hurt, and it’s an ant, which means that your family may not be aware that they’re in the presence of these stinging pests. Because, like wasps and bees, they also aggressively protect their nest, you may also need to make sure that you’re not disturbing it.
Treating any and all ants near your home is acceptable in New York and a good way to make sure that your property is free of any kind of ant, but especially the needle ants.
Staying on Top of Recent Pest Developments
There are plenty of pests that are common in the area, but new ones are also coming all the time, and it’s important to stay aware. If you have any type of pest problem at all, reaching out to Fillmore Termite and Pest Control will help address the issue and ensure that your property remains free of unwanted pests. Call now.
