Tick Population Control in Millstone Township, NJ
Challenge
Recently, I went out on a service call for a homeowner in Millstone Township, NJ who wanted an extensive tick treatment for his property. Ticks are arachnids, typically 3 to 5 mm long, that feed on blood. Adult ticks climb up grass and other plant stems and wait patiently for unsuspecting hosts to pass by. Ticks are attracted to their hosts by detecting carbon dioxide and heat through special organs located on their front legs. The type of ticks that we deal with the most are deer ticks, brown dog ticks, American dog ticks, and lone star ticks.
First, I began a thorough inspection of the property to identify the areas where ticks and rodents may be abundant. Ticks aren't born with Lymes disease. They become infected with Lymes disease when they feed on infected rodents (primarily white-footed mice). You'll primarily find ticks and rodents along the treeline, landscapes beds, high brush areas, and shaded areas on your property.
Solution
After a thorough inspection, I sprayed all the high foliage areas and along the tree line of the property with a liquid micro-encapsulating application. Once the micro-encapsulated is applied, it leaves behind thousands of microparticles that bind to the surface. Once ticks come in contact with this application, they are eliminated.
I also placed several tick boxes around the perimeter of the property. Tick boxes are metal, tamper-proof canisters that target the main host of Lymes disease. Each unit is provided with enough materials to effectively attract and treat rodents for 90 days. With both the combination treatment of spraying and tick boxes, not only will the tick population be reduced, but the percentage of infected ticks will go down as well.