Reading, Writing and Pest Control?

The three most important subjects in school have long been considered reading, writing and arithmetic, but there is another big three parents and teachers should be concerned with - the top three pests heading back to school with students this year.

At Arrow Exterminators, back-to-school time is a very busy time of year for us as we see a definite increase in pest infestations. Parents and teachers can do a lot to help students be mindful of pests and not provide them transportation by taking simple steps, such as keeping their personal belongings off the floor.

The Top Three Back to School Pests parents and teachers should be on the lookout for are bedbugs, ants and fleas. They are notorious hitchhikers and with large numbers of students congregating in small public spaces, it's easier than ever for these pests to travel from person to person or backpack to backpack. Kids often have more than their books in tow when they get home from school.

To help keep your home pest free this fall, here are some hints to help you with back-to-school pest prevention.

Bed Bugs: Bed bugs are small - about the size of an apple seed - and can typically be found in mattresses, suitcases, boxes and shoes. Nocturnal in nature, they feed on human blood. Often, people don't realize they have been attacked until an itchy, red welt appears on the skin. To prevent a bed bug infestation, clean out backpacks each night and check around the seams to avoid bringing them into the home or dorm. Whenever possible, hang backpacks and purses to keep them off the floor.

Ants: Ant infestations are very common in schools. Because they are small, they can easily find their way into small cracks and crevices around the school. Unwrapped food and crumbs left in a lunch box are the perfect snack for these pests. To prevent ant infestations, dispose of old food and clean crumbs from lunchboxes and lockers.

Fleas: The unseasonably warm, wet weather in our area coupled with a rise in the rodent population has caused flea infestations to surge. While fleas are most commonly associated with the family pet, they shouldn't be overlooked by humans since they can pose serious health problems. Fantastic hitchhikers, fleas are always looking for warm-blooded hosts to attack and can transfer bacterial diseases through their saliva.

We hope these tips will be the beginning of a happy and pest free school year!