Ticks are Icky!
Ticks are small yucky arachnids like spiders and mites. They start out with only 6 legs. When they mature they will have 8 legs. They are also blood-feeding parasites that live in grass, trees and vegetation waiting to find on to a person or animal for a little lunch.
They are found worldwide in areas where they can find a host to eat. Ticks live in forested areas but are most prevalent near water and where vegetation can provide cover. Ticks are more active in warm weather but can be active in any temperature over 45 degrees.
There are believed to be hundreds of species of Ticks. Of those there are two types of ticks; the “hard” tick and “soft” tick.
Hard ticks, like the dog tick, have a hard shell behind the mouth parts “head”; hungry hard ticks are shaped like a flat seed. Soft ticks do not have the hard shell and are shaped like a large raisin. Soft ticks feed on birds or bats.
How to Control the Spread of Ticks
Ticks cannot fly or jump. They can “drop” from their perch in the hope of landing on their new host. They must come into physical contact with their potential host. Some species of ticks stalk their prey. In their young stage, barely being able to be seen, they walk in numbers by the thousands seeking out their victim.
Ticks bury their heads into the skin of their host to feed. They will drop off by themselves after they have eaten and are full. This may take several days meanwhile causing severe pain for the person or animal infected.
They young ticks are virtually impossible to view with the naked eye. Mature ticks can be seen and removed with care. Frequent washing and chemicals for control may control the spread of young and mature ticks.
Insect repellent containing DEET can prevent the tick from setting up home on you. Flea and tick remedies may work well keep ticks off animals. A product called Phenothrin kills the young and mature tick but do not apply to the skin. Use this only on fabric.
Tick Removal
If ticks are found crawling on clothes use masking cellophane tape to remove them. Ticks will stick to the tape which can be discarded. Remove any tick found on the skin right away.
The mouth parts of a tick are barbed and may remain embedded and cause infection. Old wives tales tried to convince us to remove the tick by burning with a match or covering it with Vaseline or nail polish. Don’t do this. Do not use bare hands to remove the tick. Remember, ticks carry disease. The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it firmly with tweezers (or tissue) as close to the skin as possible and gently pull it straight out. Do not twist or jerk the tick.
Contact your doctor if the site appears to be infected, a rash develops or if you develop a fever.
