Bug Bite Identification Guide

Bug bite identification in Des Moines Iowa - Springer Professional Home Services

In the spring and summertime here in Iowa, insects are out in full force. While this is simply a fact of life, no one wants to deal with being bitten by bugs this time of year—or ever! Even in the fall and winter, there are several biting bugs to stay aware of. At Springer Professional Home Services, we know how distressing it can be to discover you’ve been bitten by an insect. Our pest control experts are here to help you learn what insects are likely to bite or sting, as well as what you can do to prevent them.

Bugs That Bite in Iowa

Whether they bite or sting, there are a number of pests and bugs that are likely culprits behind the red, itchy bumps on your skin. The most common ones we deal with here in Iowa include:

  1. Bed bugs. Bed bugs are quite elusive and good at hiding, so infestations may go undetected until the population is extensive. They primarily feed on blood when their host is asleep, so you may not catch them dining on you. You may, however, awake with their bite marks, which appear in lines on your skin and can be very itchy.
  2. Fleas & ticks. Parasitic insect infestations usually originate from an infested animal, then find their way to human victims. On occasion, people traveling through an infested area (for example, a wooded area with lone star ticks) will be attacked by these pests, as well. Pets are common carriers of these pests.
  3. Mosquitoes. Nationwide, mosquitoes are very active in the spring and summer. Sometimes, we may not notice their itchy bites immediately and assume whatever bit us is inside the building with us. In the case of these pests, by the time you notice they’ve fed on you, they have left the scene of the crime.
  4. Bees & wasps. These stinging insects are active in the spring and summertime in Iowa. While they’d rather keep to themselves, bees and wasps alike will sting when provoked. Wasps in particular are aggressive when defending their nests, and can sting you multiple times.
  5. “No see ums” (biting midge flies). Anyone who has been to marshy areas has probably been attacked by these insects. About the size of a freckle, biting midges are most active at dusk and dawn. Repellants may give some relief from these annoying blood feeders.
  6. Mites. Mites like dust mites are incredibly small and can best be seen under strong magnification. Most cases of mites biting people in their homes can be traced back to rodents or birds nesting in the home, as these animals are their preferred hosts. Unfortunately, when their regular food source isn’t present anymore, the mites will feed on people.
  7. Spiders. Despite the fear associated with spiders, most species do not bite. However, there are two spiders that will bite in defense: black widows and brown recluse spiders. A bite from either of these more aggressive spiders can be very dangerous.

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Common Symptoms of Bug Bites

In general, the symptoms of bug bites or stings are very similar. Most commonly, symptoms will include red bumps at the site of the bite, itchiness, swelling, rashes, heat surrounding the bite, and other mild symptoms. When dealing with bug bites, it’s important to treat them carefully and also be on the lookout for more serious symptoms. Symptoms that may signal you are having a worse reaction—or even an allergic reaction—to the bites include substantial swelling in the eyes or throat, trouble breathing, and dizziness. Experiencing any of these symptoms requires an immediate trip to the doctor.

How to Prevent Bug Bites

If you are dealing with bug bites and cannot decipher where they are coming from, you could have a pest problem indoors. The best thing to do is to contact your local pest control experts. At Springer Professional Home Services, our experts will thoroughly inspect your property to determine any pest problems. From there, we’ll implement a pest control plan to keep the pests away for good. Contact us today to get started!

Do Insects Transmit COVID-19?

Mosquito bites do not transmit coronavirus. Springer Professional Home Services in Des Moines IA

Here at Springer Professional Home Services, we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation as more information comes out every day. As always, our focus remains to be the health and safety of our communities here in central Iowa. That’s why we’re here to dispel a myth about how the coronavirus is spread. Although mosquitoes and ticks are infamous for spreading diseases worldwide, these pests do not transmit COVID-19. Mosquitoes and ticks are vectors for several deadly diseases, but these are vector-borne diseases while coronavirus is spread from person to person. Using information from the CDC, we’ve compiled facts on vector-borne diseases in this post. Read on to learn more!

Differences of Vector-Borne Diseases & Coronavirus

COVID-19 is not transmitted by vector pests, including mosquitoes and ticks. Coronavirus is a respiratory virus that is said to pass from person to person, which is why it is so contagious. People are exposed from droplets from saliva or nasal discharge, typically generated when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Research has shown that it can be spread through contaminated surfaces, and it is increasingly considered to be an airborne virus. Mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases are of an entirely different nature than this current virus. The main difference is that vector-borne diseases do not pass from person to person! In addition, vector-borne diseases often involve parasites. It’s important to understand that mosquito bites will not transmit COVID-19.

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Mosquito-Borne Diseases

They may not transmit coronavirus, but ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes are vectors for infectious diseases that have impacted nations worldwide. The following diseases are often tied back to vector pests:

  • Mosquitoes are infamous for transmitting malaria, Zika virus, West Nile virus, chikungunya, yellow fever, and more.
  • Lyme disease, currently the most common vector-borne disease in the nation, is transmitted by ticks.
  • When vector pests feeds off a diseased host, they can transmit pathogens that may infect other hosts it subsequently bites. 

Pest Control Services During the Coronavirus Pandemic

In these uncertain times, it’s important to stay aware of the facts. Mosquitoes and ticks do not spread coronavirus. Regardless it’s important to take caution in the presence of pests and to always enlist the help of a professional exterminator to prevent dangerous insects. Here at Springer, our team is dedicated to providing you with essential pest control services during the pandemic and all year long.

With new information about COVID-19 coming out every hour, we want to encourage our customers to seek more up-to-date info and follow guidelines released by the WHO and the CDC, as well as your state and local public health agencies.