Latin Name: Siphonaptera sp
Ticks are small, blood-sucking insects that disturb pets and the home. They are most active during warm weather and spread diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.
Ticks are as small as a pin’s head and sometimes as large as an eraser. They have eight legs. There are over 850 known species, of which you can find 90 in the United States. They are arachnids, which makes them related to spiders. They have varying colors from all shades of brown to black, depending on the tick species.
Ticks are one of the tiniest creatures in the world and are from the family of Ixodidae. Most of their larvae are the size of a grain of sand. Their nymphs are almost the size of sesame seed or poppy seed, and their unfed adults are like the size of a pencil eraser or an apple seed. They are wingless creatures, flat and oval until they are fed with blood. They have eight legs; however, their larvae have six legs. Most of them are usually black, greyish white, brown, yellowish, or reddish-brown.
Most black-legged ticks hide in shrubs and grass until they find a host they can latch on to. You will also find them in the nests of their shared hosts, such as rodents, raccoons, opossums, and skunks. Some also prefer nesting areas of a white-footed mouse because they are primarily around woodpiles, old bird nests, and tree stumps. Some need moisture to survive; hence, you will find them in crevices, cracks, and the host’s burrow. Generally, they love to stay around vegetated areas.
Both the female and male species of this pest feed on the blood of reptiles, birds, and mammals. However, each species has its preferred host even though most feed on the blood of any mammal available like deer, humans, cats, livestock, and dogs.
Although there are varying thoughts about how long a tick can survive, it is essential to know that its survival depends on its life cycle’s species, conditions, and stage. Some need to always be on their hosts to survive, while others can last 24 hours without food. For instance, the black-legged ticks can survive for up to a year in their adult form but only survive for one or two seasons in their larvae form. On the other hand, American ticks can last longer. Their larvae can stay up to 540 days without food, and their adults can survive for up to 2 – 3 years.
The first sign that shows the presence of these pests is the tick themselves. Other signs are symptoms from diseases or fluids transmitted by the ticks.
Homeowners tend to overlook this, but it is essential. Ticks like to hide their eggs in their homes because of their small size. They often hide them around doors, windows, rugs, furniture, and carpets. Another sign of an infestation is seeing them in your canister or vacuum cleaner bag.
Ticks are vectors of anaplasmosis, human babesiosis, and Lyme disease. Disease like Lyme disease, they affect areas like the heart, joints, and nervous system. Their feeding area is at the back of the neck of humans, making them undetected for days, especially on people with long hair. You will be surprised to see many people report ticks in unlike areas like the back of their ears, in their eyelids, in their vagina, and their hair. You should always use a mirror to examine for any irregular spotting.
It is essential to take steps to prevent the breeding of ticks in your home. Some of the steps you must consider are:
If you suspect these pests are in or around your home, give us a call for a Free Home Inspection!
