5 Facts About Ticks

Ticks are a parasitic arachnid. Adult ticks have eight legs and are related to spiders and mites. Many people mistakenly call them insects, but no matter what you call them ticks can be a major nuisance. They carry serious diseases and can harm you, your loved one and your pets. Here are five facts about ticks.

1. Number of Ticks

There are about 850 different species of ticks. Not all of them will carry diseases, but some do. Common ticks in the United States include the Lone Star tick, the blacklegged tick, the brown dog tick and the Gulf Coast tick. These ticks are found in the south and along the East coast.

2. Ticks Can Cause You to Develop Allergies

People have recently begun to develop allergies to beef and other meats after being bitten by the Lone Star tick. The Lone Star tick can be identified by the single dot on its back. The allergy will worsen overtime and may start out as simply feeling sick when eating red meat. Overtime it will worsen and can eventually get to the point where it causes anaphylactic shock. While it initially begins with just red meat, it can also develop into an allergy to poultry. People are allergic to the Alpha-Gal protein in the meat.

3. Ticks Have a Unique Feeding Process

Ticks need blood to advance through the different stages of their life cycle. Many ticks die because they are not able to attach to a host and drink their blood. Unlike other insects, ticks can feed for between 24 to 48 hours at a time. The tick may take up to 2 hours to attach to the host, but they often apply a glue-like substance to attach to the host.

4. Ticks Go Through 4 Stages

Ticks go through four different stages during their lifecycle. They begin as eggs, then hatch as larvae with just six legs. Ticks will then develop into nymphs with eight legs and finally mature into adult ticks that will lay the eggs. The entire lifecycle can take up to three years. As the ticks grow they will molt their shells as they grow bigger.

5. Ticks Lay Up to 4000 Eggs

Female ticks lay up to 4000 eggs during their lifetimes. Some species of ticks will lay all 4000 ticks at once, while other species will lay them in smaller batches. The tick must feed before laying the eggs, since they need the protein in the blood.

If you are worried about ticks bothering you or your pets, you can take the steps to prevent getting ticks. Treating your pet for ticks and fleas is just one step. Another option is to wear bug repellent when you go outside. You can also treat your yards for ticks. The experts at Mosquito Tek can apply a barrier spray that will keep your yard free from ticks all summer long.

Contact Mosquito Tek today to learn more, or go here to find out about flea and tick extermination: https://www.mosquitofreeliving.com/services/flea-tick-control/

Comments

Will the East Asian Tick Spread to the Arlington Area This Year?

The East Asian tick has made the news in the last few days because it is a new tick species that was identified as being in the United States this year. It was first identified last fall, but efforts were made to eradicate it. Unfortunately, scientists have determined that those efforts did not work, and the species has been established in New Jersey. Why Are People Concerned About the East Asian Tick? It is an extremely invasive species that originated in Asia. When it first spread to Australia it causes significant problems for farmers there. The ticks are often found around farms animals, but they can also be found on large animals like deer. The East Asian tick does carry the SFTS virus, which is a new virus that was first discovered in 2009. It has potential for serious complications and scientists worry about a potential outbreak. How Does the East Asian Tick Spread? The experts are not sure how the East Asian tick made its way to the United States. However, once it is...

Florence brings Flooding and Mosquitoes to PWC

As the remnants of Hurricane Florence have pushed farther north and west of the eastern seaboard, heavy rains have inundated areas of northern Virginia and caused flooding as far north as DC . Not only did the areas around the floodplains get a major increase in flooding, but the ground in general became heavily saturated with rainwater, thus providing a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes to lay eggs and increase their number. Mosquito Breeding in Wet Yard Areas Mosquitoes will typically lay their eggs in areas where rainwater collects naturally, such as in ponds and along the banks of rivers and streams, but with all the rain that Florence brought to Prince William County quite a few homeowners have noticed that mosquito populations have increased dramatically since the storm. This is because the mosquitoes can now easily lay their eggs in just about any location where there is still water pooling from the rains, and until the ground is fully dry this will continue unless action ...

What Are Mosquito Control Programs?

Mosquitoes are an issue throughout the world. They spread a number of serious illnesses. There are different strategies that people take to protect themselves from mosquitoes including use mosquito repellent, and mosquito netting. They may use candles and bug lights. However, the mosquito problem is so serious that many countries and government enact mosquito control programs to keep the mosquito population at bay. How Do Mosquito Control Programs Work? The programs work because an insecticide is spread throughout the area, especially in areas where mosquitoes are prone such as swampy areas. The insecticide needs to be applied on a regular basis to be effective. The insecticide will kill the adult mosquitoes. They may also address the areas where they breed, but they may have a harder time since they care covering such large spread areas. Can I Have a Mosquito Control Program for My Yard? You can contact a professional to come in and take care of your yard for you. They ca...

Mosquito Tek

Search This Blog