Twice a year, swarms of Lovebugs cloud the skies of the Southeastern US, including Atlanta, Georgia. For the most part, Lovebugs are harmless to people. They don't bite or carry infectious diseases, and they don't invade homes or bother pets. In fact, in some cases, the Lovebug is actually beneficial. However, during the late Spring and late Summer, car owners need to be aware of the presence of Lovebugs and the potential harm they pose to automobiles.

Lovebugs are a type of March Fly originally native to Central America, which have migrated up the Gulf Coast and farther eastward. For the most part, we rarely see Lovebugs in Atlanta, GA, because it spends most of its life as a larvae underground. There it plays a vital role feeding on decaying vegetation and aerating soil. Surprisingly, this is where Lovebugs are most vulnerable. When Lovebugs migrated, they originally appeared in much greater numbers because they'd escaped the species that limited their population in Central America. Eventually, those species caught up with the Lovebugs, mostly certain kinds of fungi that infect their larvae. During the months of late April to May, and again in August through September, the adult Lovebugs, now flying insects, erupt from the ground to mate. This is generally when we see Lovebug swarms and where they become problematic to car owners.

Lovebugs in Atlanta, GA, swarm around highways and other roads, which is where they come in contact with cars. Compared to other flying insects, these guys aren't huge, averaging about a third of an inch long, but when they swarm, their numbers make up for their size. When they collide with a car, which is likely to happen, they obviously don't do any immediate damage; However, if they're little bodies are left on a car too long, say a day or so,  problems can occur. Normally a Lovebug's body has a neutral pH, meaning it's between acidity and basicity, kinda like water, milk, or even our blood. Lemon juice is an example of an acid, and bleach is an example of a base. You probably wouldn't want to leave either one on your car, right? Well, the same goes for Lovebugs because as they decompose, their bodies become more acidic.

Dead, acidic Lovebugs left on cars can pit and scar paint jobs and chrome. Newer cars are probably less susceptible to acid damage from bugs, but you still don't want to let these little buggers leave their marks. Besides ruining paint jobs, Lovebugs, like other flying insects, can clog a car's grill, preventing the proper ventilation an engine needs to run properly.

How should you prepare for Lovebugs in Atlanta, GA? Combating Lovebugs with insecticides is futile if not counterproductive. They can easily avoid poisons, whereas other, beneficial flying-insects like honeybees might be harmed. Fortunately, there are a few things car owners can do to protect their cars from Lovebug damage. First, Lovebugs have a pretty regular life cycle, so you can count on them appearing sometime in April to May and August to September. Prepare before hand by waxing your car. This helps protect your paint job, but it also makes it a lot easier to clean those guys off. Second, mating Lovebugs are primarily active during the day, so plan your trips in the early morning and during the evening. Reduce your speed to limit the number of bugs splattered. If your car does hit a swarm, try to wash them off before they're exposed to too much sunlight. The longer a bug sits on your car, the more likely it is to acidify. Should you have more questions, please contact your Atlanta pest control provider at 678-553-4521

Lyme disease is not a joke. 
If left unchecked, Lyme disease can become a chronic illness.  Lyme disease is passed by ticks that draws blood from its host in order to survive.
The CDC recommends using a professional to get rid of tics in your home.
Atlanta pest control companies are everywhere.
Preventing Lyme disease is your best bet for keeping it at bay.  Pacific Pest Solutions is one such company that will protect your home or business from Lyme Disease and the ticks that carry them.


Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Rash where tick bites you
Stiff neck 
Chills 
Fever
Swollen lymph nodes 
Headaches
Fatigue 
Muscle aches 
Joint pain


Treatment for Lyme Disease

Immediate attention using effective antibiotics usually results in rapid recoveryAntibiotics include: doxycycline, cefuroxime axetil, amoxicillin
If you are afraid you have waited too long, click here for more info

Many people are looking for general pest control in Alpharetta Georgia, and are worried about doing the task themselves, versus hiring a professional.

While it is possible to do it oneself, there are a myriad of choices out there, and not all of them work for the same pests.  A professional will assess the situation, noting the types of pests in the home, and will then specially treat the home for said pests.  With a professional, there is a guarantee that the pests will not come back in a specific time period, and if they do, the professionals come back and retreat.

For those worried about pets, and pest control, there are a number of pest control products on the market that are actually very harmful to domestic pets, and these can even cause death if eaten (oftentimes, dogs can choke on ant or roach traps, or get upset stomachs from eating poison). 

Professional pesticides, however, are typically administered at just a one percent concentrate, which are effective enough to kill small insects, but pose no threats to animals or people.  Additionally, the droplets do not remain in the air long enough to be a threat to breathing.

Even the residue that is left behind is only toxic to bugs, not your pets. 

Those who are looking for general pest control in Alpharetta, Georgia, who want to make sure their pets are kept safe from harmful chemicals or traps, should consider calling a professional.  

Many people complain about the mosquitoes in Alpharetta, Georgia.  No matter where one lives in the area, these pests seem to come out in abundance.

Mosquitoes are actually part of the same group as the true flies, Diptera (and sometimes they too are confused for one another).  They can actually grow up to 9 mm in size. 

It is possible to have an infestation of these pests, and if that occurs, it is important to take action, quickly, as they can carry disease that can affect both humans and domestic animals.

Signs of an Infestation

For those wondering whether or not they have a true mosquito infestation, look for the sounds of the females buzzing, and of course, note the increase of bites on the body.

People do have different reactions to mosquito bites, due to the fact that everyone is allergic in different ways.  Some might feel only a mild irritation, while some people are prone to intense inflammation and swelling.

Signs of the immature mosquitoes are finding them in standing water (this can include the trays or dishes under houseplants). 

Getting Rid of Them

A number of pesticides, typically sprays, are available at home repair or hardware stores.  Or, call a professional to eradicate all signs of these pests.  Other ideas are mosquito zappers, which hang outside the home, in areas of high traffic.  The only problem with zappers is that they do little or nothing to control the actual population of these pests, and do not address their breeding areas. 

For Alpharetta pest control, and more importantly, protection from these flying pests, consider consulting a professional.