Understanding Ticks

Quck answer

Ticks are small, blood-sucking arachnids that can transmit diseases to humans and animals. They use their sharp mouthparts to pierce the skin and feed on blood. Ticks go through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. They need a blood meal during each stage to develop and reproduce. Ticks can detect their hosts by sensing carbon dioxide, body heat, and other chemicals. Once they find a host, they crawl to a warm, moist area and attach themselves with their mouthparts. Ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosis. To prevent tick bites, wear protective clothing, use insect repellent, and check your body and clothes for ticks after spending time outdoors.

Animals in the Wild

Preventing and Managing Tick Infestations

If you plan to venture into areas where ticks are common, there are some simple steps you can take to minimize the risk of getting bitten. Here are some tips:

1. Wear light-colored clothes to make it easier to spot ticks that may be crawling on your clothes. A quick way to get rid of crawling ticks on your clothes is to use a loop of tape.
2. Wear long-sleeved shirts and tuck your pants into your socks or boots.
3. Wear a hat to keep ticks away from your head.
4. If you’re working outdoors, wear work gloves.
5. Use an insect repellent containing DEET to spray your clothes. Avoid spraying on your skin as DEET can cause allergic reactions like blisters or hives. However, don’t rely solely on the repellent to protect you from ticks. Some ticks can still crawl on areas sprayed with insect repellent until they reach your skin.

Animals can also get sick from tick bites, so it’s important to keep them away from your pets:

1. Keep your pets indoors if possible and check them for ticks regularly if they go outside.
2. Use an insecticide or repellent specifically formulated to target ticks to protect your pets. Some flea treatments can also repel ticks.
3. Thoroughly clean kennels and crates, paying attention to cracks and crevices where ticks may lay their eggs.

You can check if your property has a tick infestation by dragging a white, rough-textured cloth through areas where ticks are likely to be found. If the cloth collects a lot of ticks, then you have a tick infestation. A neat and tidy yard is less likely to attract ticks as they prefer overgrown weeds, leaf litter, and decaying wood. So, it’s best to clear out such areas in your yard.

If you find an infestation, it’s best to treat your home, property, and pets simultaneously. However, treating your entire lawn with a pesticide can do more harm than good. Ticks usually live in tall grass, weeds, and shrubs, so focus on treating overgrown areas that lawn mowers can’t reach. Always follow the instructions on the pesticide label when using it.

Getting rid of ticks takes time and persistence. If commercial tick-control products don’t work, seek assistance from a local exterminator. To learn more about ticks, fleas, and other related topics, visit the links below.

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More Great Links

• Tick Identification Key
• Medline Plus: Tick Bites
• Iowa State Entomology Image Gallery
• Cornell University Entomology Extension and Outreach
• PennState Department of Entomology Image Gallery

Sources

• Anderson, Renee R. and Laura C. Harrington. “Tick Biology for the Homeowner.” Cornell Cooperative Extension. (8/13/2007) http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/MedEnt/TickBioFS/TickBioFS.html
• Borreliosis & Associated Disease Awareness UK. “About Ticks.” (8/13/2007) http://www.bada-uk.org/videointro.html
• Centers for Disease Control. “Southern Tick-associated Rash Illness.” (8/13/2007) http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/stari/index.htm
• Doggett, Stephen L. “Spotted Fevers.” University of Sydney and Westmeade Hospital. (8/13/2007) http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/spotfev.htm
• Harvard University. “Ticks of New England: Fact Sheet and Gallery. 2006. (8/13/2007) http://www.uos.harvard.edu/ehs/pes_ticks.shtml
• Hill, Catherine and John MacDonald. “Ticks.” Purdue University. (8/13/2007) http://www.entm.purdue.edu/publichealth/insects/tick.html
• Illinois Department of Public Health. “Common Ticks.” (8/13/2007) http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pccommonticks.htm
• Jacobs, Steve. “Entomological Notes: Four Common Ticks of Pennsylvania.” (8/13/2007) http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/common_ticks.htm
• Kohler, P. G. and F. M. Oi. “Ticks.” University of Florida IFAS Extension. (8/13/2007) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IG088
• New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “Ticks.” (8/13/2007) http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ehs/ehstick.shtml
• Potter, Michael F. “Ticks and Disease: Answers to Often Asked Questions.” University of Kentucky. (8/13/2007) http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef618.asp
• Ruedisuli, Frank L. and Brigitte Manship. “Tick Anatomy.” Tick Identification key. (8/13/2007) http://webpages.lincoln.ac.uk/fruedisueli/FR-webpages/parasitology/Ticks/TIK/tick-key/tick_anatomy.htm
• TickTexas. “Anatomy of Hard and Soft Ticks.” (8/13/2007) http://www.ticktexas.org/ticks/ticks101_anatomy.htm
• University of Sydney and Westmeade Hospital. “Ticks.” (8/13/2007) http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/ticks.htm
• Vredevoe, Larisa. “Background Information on the Biology of Ticks.” University of California. Davis. (8/13/2007) http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/faculty/rbkimsey/tickbio.html

FAQ

1. What are ticks?

Ticks are arachnids that belong to the same family as spiders and scorpions. They are small, blood-sucking parasites that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Ticks are known to transmit diseases to humans and animals, making them a significant public health concern.

2. How do ticks find their hosts?

Ticks use a variety of sensory organs to locate their hosts, including their sense of smell, heat sensors, and vision. They often climb to the tips of grass blades or other vegetation and wait for a host to brush past. When they sense the presence of a potential host, they attach themselves to the skin and begin to feed on their blood.

3. Can ticks burrow into the skin?

Contrary to popular belief, ticks do not burrow into the skin. Instead, they attach themselves to the skin’s surface and feed on the host’s blood until they are engorged. Once they have finished feeding, they will detach themselves and drop off the host.

4. What diseases can ticks transmit?

Ticks are known to transmit a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick-borne encephalitis. These diseases can cause a range of symptoms, from fever and fatigue to severe neurological problems. It is essential to seek medical attention if you suspect you have been bitten by a tick.

5. How can you prevent tick bites?

You can reduce your risk of tick bites by wearing long sleeves and pants when spending time in wooded or grassy areas. Apply insect repellent to exposed skin and perform regular tick checks on yourself and your pets. If you find a tick attached to your skin, use tweezers to remove it carefully.

6. Can ticks live indoors?

While ticks are primarily an outdoor pest, they can occasionally find their way indoors on pets or clothing. However, ticks cannot survive for long without a host, so they are unlikely to establish an infestation indoors. Regular cleaning and vacuuming can help reduce the risk of ticks in your home.