What Are Ticks?

Tick are small blood sucking arachnids that are most notorious for being the primary vector for Lyme disease. They are small round bugs with eight legs that feed on the blood of their host. They hide in tall grass and dense foliage just waiting for an unsuspecting host to pass by. When they do, ticks will use their front legs to latch onto the fur or clothing of their new host where they will feed until they are engorged with blood. After feeding ticks will grow significantly larger and then drop off to find a safe place to lay their eggs. 

Tick Classification

Ticks are parasitic bugs that are classified as Arachnida and belong in the superorder Parasitiformes which is the same order that mites belong to. Within that superorder, ticks are broken down into two major families:

• Ixodidae are hard ticks
• Argasidae are soft ticks

Tick Appearance

There are several species of ticks, but they typically share similar features. These small bugs have eight legs and soft oval bodies that can grow significantly larger after a blood meal. Before they feed, adult ticks are about the size of an apple seed. After a blood meal, they will become engorged and be about the size of a grape. Different species of ticks come in varying colors from red, brown, and black. Once they are engorged, they often turn a grey or bluish color. Hard ticks are identified by a solid plate that they have on their back while soft ticks do not have that same hard plate. Ticks are wingless and rely on crawling around to get to where they need to be to secure their meals. They will use their legs to crawl up tall grass or branches and then use their front legs to attach themselves to a new host as they pass by. 

Tick Facts 

• Fossil records indicate that ticks have been in existence for at least 90 million years.
• Next to mosquitoes, ticks are one of the most dangerous blood sucking pests.
• When bitten by a tick, they bury their head inside of the epidural layer. If the tick is not removed properly, the head will become separated and stay in the skin which could cause an infection.
• Ticks rely on the proteins found inside of blood to lay eggs.
• Male ticks will die after mating while females can live for a couple years.
• Tick infestations can get so bad on wild animals that the animal can die from blood loss. 

Common Types of Ticks

There are over 800 species of ticks globally with around 90 known species that inhabit the US. The different species below are some of the most common species found in America:

• Rocky Mountain Wood Tick – A reddish brown tick which are found in the Rocky Mountains and on the west coast.
• Black Legged Tick – This brown tick with black legs is also known as the deer tick and is the primary carrier of Lyme Disease.
• Brown Dog Tick – These brown ticks are found all over the US and typically feed on dogs.
• Gulf Coast Tick – These ticks are a light brown and can be found in states that border the Gulf of Mexico.
• Lone Star Tick – These brown ticks with a white patch on their backs are found in the Eastern US states.
• Western Black Legged Tick – Also known to transmit Lyme Disease and can be found in the states along the Pacific coast. 

Tick Habitat

Ticks can be found all over the US with certain species having a stronger presence in certain regions. Typically, they prefer warm humid climates because they need moisture to molt and mature. No matter where they are found, ticks prefer heavily wooded areas that are dense with shrubs, trees, tall grass, and weeds. They use these elevated platforms to find and attach themselves to unsuspecting hosts. Another good place ticks like to hide in are piles of organic debris. Since ticks are sensitive to temperature and humidity, finding places like piles of leaves and inside bushes will protect them from the sun while providing them the moisture they need to develop into mature adults. 

When Are Ticks Are Active?

Ticks become active at the start of spring when temperatures start to rise. Peak activity is generally between April and June which is when most tick bites occur. At the peak of summer when temperatures are at their hottest, ticks tend to calm down since they are sensitive to heat. After summer starts to cool off, tick populations will become active again in the fall. When winter comes, tick activity declines while ticks go into survival mode and try and stay alive during the colder months. 

Tick Life Cycle

A tick’s life cycle is broken down into 3 primary stages: larvae, nymphs, and adults. A tick can only progress onto the next stage of its life after getting a healthy blood meal from its host. On average, a tick will take 2 – 3 years to reach the end of its lifespan. After a tick reaches adulthood, females will feed one final time before laying thousands of eggs then dying. 

Tick Diet

Ticks feed on the blood of vertebrates which contain high levels of proteins and micronutrients like iron, sodium, and other vitamins that ticks need to survive. Since they feed on blood, ticks are classified as ectoparasites. The blood allows them to undergo the necessary changes they need to reach adulthood. Without a healthy source of blood, ticks will remain in their current state and will eventually die off from starvation. Some ticks will search out sensitive areas with thinner skin which makes it easier to feed on. Unlike other bloodsucking pests that use a straw like tube to draw blood, ticks grab the host’s skin and tears a small opening to bury its head into so it can lap up the blood that emerges. The host is usually oblivious to this fact due to ticks’ ability to excrete a substance that acts as an anticoagulant and mild anesthetic. Ticks will feed for up to several day until they are completely engorged, sometimes reaching 200 – 600x their unfed weight. 

How Do Ticks Find Their Prey?

Similar to other blood sucking parasites, ticks have developed a strong sense of smell that can detect trace amounts of CO2 in the air. This CO2 indicates that a host is close by which activates the ticks and causes them to climb into a position where they can latch onto a new host. In addition to sensing CO2, ticks can also use changes in light to detect movement as well as sensing body heat through infrared vision. Each of these extraordinary senses helps ticks find their next hosts. When a tick senses a host close by, they will wait in a position called “questing.” This is when a tick will reach the tip of a blade of grass or branch and extend its front legs out in attempts to latch onto the fur or clothing of an unsuspecting host.

Tick Risk Factors

Ticks are prevalent in heavily wooded areas, so individuals who hike through grassy areas or woods can find themselves with an unwelcome guest. It is also important to remember that ticks are more prevalent from April through September so seasonal hikers and adventurers that travel through areas that have dense grass and brush put themselves at more risk. This can be even more problematic for individuals that are walking with pets that are not treated with tick medication because they can collect ticks as they walk through wooded areas or areas will piles of dead leaves or other organic debris. 

Tick Bites

Tick bites often go unnoticed because their saliva contains enzymes that help numb the pain. This can be problematic because ticks can infect their host with a serious tick-borne disease in a matter of minutes after being bitten. After the tick gets done feeding, they will drop off, but later symptoms will develop. These symptoms include itchiness, burning, redness, and sometime pain. In extreme cases, additional symptoms like rash, shortness of breath, swelling, numbness, and mild paralysis can develop due to allergies and other symptoms like fever, weakness, vomiting, confusion, or palpitations may also occur. In the event that any of the more serious symptoms develop, medical attention is recommended. 

Tick Diseases

Some of the more serious symptoms may be the result of a tick-borne illness. The most dangerous diseases identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can include:

• Anaplasmosis
• Babesiosis
• Borrelia Mayamotoi
• Colorado Tick Fever
• Ehrlichiosis
• Heartland Virus
• Lyme Disease
• Powassan Virus
• Red Meat Allergy
• Rickettsia Parkeri Rickettsiosis
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness
• Tick Borne Relapsing Fever
• Tularemia

How To Prevent Tick Bites

The best way to avoid tick bites is to take preventative measures that stop ticks from latching on. The following are all effective at minimizing tick bites:

• Walk on trails that provide enough distance, so you and your pets do not come into contact with excessive bushes, grass, or dead leaves.
• Wear light colored clothing so ticks can be quickly and easily identified for removal.
• Use a targeted insect repellent designed to prevent ticks in addition to pet medication designed to treat for ticks and fleas.
• Wear long pants with high socks, and long sleeves to reduce exposed skin.
• Tuck pants into socks to prevent ticks from climbing up onto your legs.
• Keep grass in your yard, especially grass near wooded areas trimmed and well kept.
• Check for ticks after hikes and trail runs.

How to Check for Ticks on Yourself and Your Pets

Regular checks for ticks anytime you find yourself in an area that could be infested with ticks is always a good idea. For humans, this requires a thorough inspection of your body with a focus on areas that are dark, warm, and potentially damp. This means a thorough inspection of your groin, armpits, knees, and neck. For pets, be sure to start at their head and then move down their bodies using a comb and your hands to feel for lumps. Be sure to pay special attention to their ears, under their collars, the legs, the groin, under the tail, and between the toes. 

How to Remove a Tick

Prompt tick removal is critical to minimizing the chance of being infected by a tick-borne disease. If you have discovered ticks on you or your pet it is important that they are removed correctly since ticks will bury their head inside the skin. If they are not removed properly, the heads will be separated and will continue to be a possible source of infection. The best way to remove a tick is to use a pair of tweezers or a specific tool designed to lift ticks off safely. Be sure to grab the tick as close as possible to the skin and pull upwards slowly without squeezing the body. Do not twist the or turn the tick as it is being removed as that could increase the likelihood that the head will be separated. Once the tick is removed, be sure to keep it in case serious symptoms develop and it needs to be tested for disease. 

Contact EcoGuard Pest Management If You Have Seen Signs of Tick Activity

If you have seen ticks or experienced tick activity on you or your pets or around your home, it may be time to have professionals come treat the infested area. The tick exterminators at EcoGuard Pest Management have years of experience effectively identifying problematic areas and treating for ticks. We use an integrated pest management approach that combines the benefits of several treatment options, so ticks are effectively and efficiently exterminated from your property. 

Tick FAQs