SERVICE REQUEST

If you have pets, you’ve probably dealt with fleas. And if you spend any time outdoors in South Carolina — hiking, gardening, or just letting the kids play in the yard — you’ve likely had close encounters with ticks too.

Here in the Midlands, fleas and ticks aren’t just a summer problem. Our mild climate means these pests stay active for much of the year, putting your family and pets at risk longer than in colder parts of the country.

The Flea Problem in South Carolina

Fleas are tiny — about the size of a sesame seed — but they can make life miserable. A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day, which means a small problem can become a major infestation in just a few weeks.

Signs you have a flea problem:

  • Your pets are scratching excessively or seem restless
  • You see small, fast-moving dark specks in your carpet or on your pet’s fur
  • You notice tiny red bites on your ankles and legs
  • You find “flea dirt” — tiny black specks of droppings — on your pet’s skin or bedding

The Tick Problem in South Carolina

South Carolina is home to several tick species including the Black-Legged Tick, American Dog Tick, and Lone Star Tick. Ticks are a serious public health concern because of the diseases they transmit:

  • Lyme Disease: Transmitted by black-legged ticks; cases are increasing in South Carolina
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Transmitted by American dog ticks and very serious if not treated early
  • Ehrlichiosis: Transmitted by lone star ticks and increasingly common in the Southeast
  • Alpha-Gal Syndrome: A meat allergy caused by lone star tick bites — and South Carolina has plenty of lone star ticks

Why Professional Treatment Matters

Over-the-counter flea products can help with active fleas on your pet, but they often don’t address the full lifecycle. Flea eggs and pupae are highly resistant to pesticides, flea larvae hide deep in carpeting where sprays don’t reach, and without treating your yard, pets will keep picking up fleas from outside.

Effective flea control requires treating your pet (with your vet’s guidance), your home, and your yard simultaneously.

How Econ-O-Bug Treats for Fleas and Ticks

Indoor treatment: We apply targeted treatments to carpets, upholstery, pet bedding areas, and other places where flea eggs and larvae are likely present.

Outdoor treatment: We treat your yard, focusing on shaded areas, leaf litter, and spots where pets spend time — the zones where ticks and fleas are most active.

Recommendations: We’ll advise you on steps to take alongside professional treatment, including frequent vacuuming, washing pet bedding, and working with your vet on ongoing flea prevention for your pets.

Protecting Your Home Going Forward

  • Keep your lawn mowed and remove leaf litter where ticks hide
  • Create a barrier of wood chips or gravel between wooded areas and your lawn
  • Check pets for ticks every time they come inside
  • Stay current on flea and tick prevention medication for your pets

Serving the Midlands Year-Round

Fleas and ticks don’t take a season off in South Carolina, and neither do we. Econ-O-Bug Pest Control is a family-owned business serving Lexington, Columbia, and the surrounding Midlands since 1981.

Call us today at (803) 998-2297 or visit econobugpc.com to schedule your free inspection.