Tick & Mite Pest Control
Do you have a pest problem or you’d like to prevent one? Contact us today to get pest control for mites and ticks!
Mite & Tick Pest Control
Our Mite Control Process
Our mite control process depends on the type of mite you’re dealing with. However, we commonly apply a residual insecticide spray in a band extending 2 feet up and 6–10 feet out from your home's foundation. Timing matters: late March or early April is the sweet spot for maximum effectiveness. Indoor crack and crevice treatment may also be recommended in some cases.
Our Tick Control Process
We focus treatment on areas most likely to harbor ticks: paths, trails, property lines, fence rows, and tall grasses. A residual pesticide is applied to these zones, with early spring being the ideal timing to target overwintering larvae and nymphs.
Address the Source
For both ticks and mites, Plunkett’s may also recommend eliminating any pest rodents in the area surrounding your home. We’ll accomplish this with the rodenticides and/or rodent traps.
Fill out the form to schedule a tick or mite service today!
What Types of Ticks and Mites are There?
There are thousands of different types of ticks and mites. However, the most common types include:
No matter what type of pest you’re dealing with, Plunkett’s can help!
Tick Identification & Behavior
Ticks are blood-feeding arachnids, closely related to spiders. They wait in grassy or brushy areas and latch onto passing hosts, then cut through the skin and insert a feeding tube, often going unnoticed. If undisturbed, a tick can feed for hours or even days.
Ticks live up to three years on average, yet most have only about three blood meals in their lifetime, spending the majority of their time in the environment rather than on a host.
What Do Ticks Look Like?
Mature ticks are roughly apple-seed sized; nymphs are closer to a poppy seed. Most species are black, brown, or reddish brown, and their bodies swell after feeding, which can dull their appearance. Like all arachnids, ticks have eight legs, including two front appendages called hypostomes, which are barbed for latching onto a host.
Mite Identification & Behavior
Mites are much smaller than ticks and harder to spot. Many mite types, like dust mites, feed on dead skin rather than blood. This means you'll typically find them where dust accumulates: lampshades, laundry piles, unwashed bedding, and neglected spaces like attics. Bird mites, on the other hand, feed on blood.
Close Up of Red Velvet Mite
What Do Mites Look Like?
Mites are nearly impossible to see without magnification. They have two body segments, though they appear as a single flat shape to the naked eye. Color varies widely by species and life stage, ranging from bright red or blue to tan, green, or brown. They're often found in clusters on plants or animals like dogs.
How Do Ticks & Mites Get Inside?
If you find ticks and mites in your home, they are probably entering your space from:
- Pets: Ticks can hitch rides on your four-legged pals. Check your dogs before letting them back inside.
- Pests: Blacklegged tick nymphs are known to get inside via rodents, which is why it’s important to get an infestation taken care of right away.
- People: After you come in from spending time in wooded areas, check yourself and your kids for ticks.
- Outdoor Gear & Items: After camping, hiking, and being outside, your belongings can accumulate ticks and mites. Check these items thoroughly before storing them in your house.
The Dangers of Ticks
Tick bites are mostly harmless. However, they can cause allergic reactions and other skin irritations. Ticks can also pass diseases to humans and pets, including:
- Lyme Disease
- Babesiosis
- Bartonellosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Anaplasmosis
- Rickettsiosis
The Dangers of Mites
In the US, it is uncommon for mites to transmit disease to humans. However, they are unpleasant in other ways.
They can cause skin irritation and are a total nuisance when they get into your home in large numbers, since they commonly infest pets and plants.
Tick Pest Control Pricing
- Brown Dog Ticks (3 Visits): $449 for properties up to 2,500 square feet.
- Exterior American / Deer Tick Treatment: $225 for properties up to 2,500 square feet.
Brown dog ticks come with a 60-day guarantee from the date of initial service. American or deer tick jobs are not guaranteed, but we can offer a 1/2 price follow-up treatment within 60 days.
Tick & Mite Control With Plunkett's
At Plunkett’s, our goal is to help you quickly, conveniently, and in the most cost-effective way. We make every effort to be with you asap, usually within a day or two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ticks active year-round in the Midwest?
Yes. Ticks remain a threat all year in the Midwest. Blacklegged deer ticks are actually most active in late fall and early spring when temperatures stay above freezing, so stopping treatment after summer is a common mistake.
Do ticks fly or jump?
Ticks can’t fly or jump. Instead, they use a behavior called questing. This involves them climbing to the tips of grass or shrubs and waiting with their front legs outstretched to latch onto a passing host. This is why tall grass, dense brush, and wooded border areas around your yard are the highest-risk zones.
How do ticks find you?
Ticks detect hosts through body heat, breath, vibration, and even the carbon dioxide you exhale. They don’t chase or hunt; they position themselves in high-traffic spots and wait for an opportunity. Staying on mowed paths and wearing treated clothing significantly reduces contact.
How do I protect myself from a black-legged (deer) tick bite?
Before heading outdoors, apply EPA-registered repellents containing DEET or picaridin to exposed skin and clothing. Wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing so ticks are easier to spot, tuck pants into socks in wooded areas, and do a full-body tick check within two hours of coming inside.
Do dust mites bite?
Dust mites don’t actually bite. They feed on dead skin cells and are too small to pierce human skin. What people often experience is an allergic reaction—sneezing, congestion, or skin irritation—triggered by dust mite waste particles. If you’re seeing actual bites or red marks, the culprit is more likely a different mite species or another pest entirely.
Can pest control get rid of ticks?
Yes. Professional tick control is one of the most effective ways to reduce tick populations on your property. Plunkett’s applies targeted residual insecticides to the areas where ticks concentrate: path edges, fence lines, tall grass perimeters, and shaded spots near wooded borders. A single treatment significantly reduces tick pressure, and our technicians will recommend the right timing based on your local tick species and activity levels. Schedule a service today!
How much does tick control cost?
Plunkett’s tick control pricing starts at $225 for an exterior American or deer tick treatment on properties up to 2,500 square feet. Brown dog tick infestations require a more intensive three-visit program starting at $449. Final pricing depends on property size and the severity of activity (your technician will confirm on-site). There’s no guarantee on American/deer tick specials, but we offer a half-price follow-up within 60 days. Schedule a tick service!
How do I control ticks in my yard?
Start by reducing tick habitat: mow regularly, clear leaf litter, and create a wood chip or gravel barrier between your lawn and any wooded areas. Remove brush piles and tall grass where ticks like to wait for hosts. For active infestations, a professional residual insecticide application along path edges, fence lines, and shaded perimeters is the most effective step. Plunkett’s targets these high-risk zones specifically rather than treating the entire lawn.
When is the best time to treat for ticks?
Early spring is the ideal window for a tick treatment because you can target overwintering larvae and nymphs before they become active adults. In our service area, that typically means March through May for the first application. Fall treatments can also be effective for blacklegged ticks, which peak in activity when temperatures dip into the 30s and 40s. For ongoing protection, a seasonal treatment schedule is the most reliable approach.
Are ticks dangerous to pets?
Yes. Dogs are highly susceptible to tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Cats can also carry ticks indoors, even if they show fewer symptoms. It’s best to treat pets through a veterinarian on the same day as any indoor tick treatment. Make sure you check pets for ticks after any time spent outdoors, especially in areas with tall grass, brush, or wooded edges.
What is the difference between a tick and a mite?
Ticks and mites are both arachnids in the subclass Acari, but they differ in size, diet, and impact. Ticks are larger (visible to the naked eye), feed exclusively on blood, and can transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Mites are microscopic, feed on a much wider range of materials (dead skin, plant matter, other insects), and very rarely transmit disease to humans in the US. Clover mites, for example, are a common household nuisance but pose no health risk.
