When summertime arrives in Bensalem, most people are excited about getting outdoors. Unfortunately, the great outdoors poses risks, and some of these are serious.
Does the danger of running into ticks mean that people should stay indoors in the summer? This is not necessary, but it is sensible to take precautions. For instance, whenever people go into forested areas, it is wise to wear shirts with long sleeves as well as long pants. Covering skin helps to prevent ticks from being able to latch on and start consuming a blood meal.
Of course, ticks can still hitch a ride on clothing, especially in seams and folds. This is why it is a good idea to perform a tick check before returning to the car. Tick checks help to ensure that ticks remain in wilderness areas instead of being brought back to homes, offices and yards.
Despite wearing insect repellent and long sleeves, people still sometimes find themselves dealing with a tick infestation. These can be difficult to treat, particularly if property owners attempt the DIY approach.
Simply put, the tick treatments that are available to the public are not especially effective. They are not as powerful as those that are used by pest management professionals. Plus, if these DIY treatments are not properly used, they can contribute to making the infestation worse by prolonging it.
The best approach is to hire a professional pest control technician to deal with all tick problems.
WHAT DO TICKS LOOK LIKE?
American dog ticks may be identified by their reddish-brown coloring, which is set off by silver or gray markings on the dorsal shield. Females are approximately five millimeters long before a meal, but they can balloon up to 15 millimeters long after eating.
Like the American dog tick, the black legged tick gets larger after feeding. Before a meal, this pest is flat and shaped like an oval. Brown and orange are common colors, but the legs are always darker than the body.
Tan, blond or reddish-brown, the ground hog tick is approximately the size of a sesame seed. It is sometimes referred to as the woodchuck tick, and females of the species may be identified by the lozenge-shaped brown shield on their backs.
WHERE DO TICKS LIVE?
Ticks are tiny, but they still like to keep themselves well-concealed. Areas that have lush vegetation may host huge populations of these pests. The foliage provides plenty of places for ticks to hang out while waiting for a host to happen by.
Fields, meadows and forests are common places to encounter ticks. It is not necessary to venture into heavy undergrowth or little-used paths to pick up these pests. They frequently are found along high-traffic paths where animals and people are likely to be near.
Ticks have limited mobility as they do not have wings. Moreover, they cannot jump. This means that these pests must hang on to plants or grasses with their rear legs while their forelegs are held out. Known as "questing," this position makes it easy for ticks to attach themselves to anyone who comes their way.
Finding a host is easy because ticks have senses that are well-adapted for this task. They can tell that a host is near by sensing scent, vibrations, moisture and breath. Brushing up against the tick is all that is required for a person to pick up a tick. These pests will remain on the host until they are physically removed or have eaten their fill.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY TICKS
When people and pets love playing in the outdoors, it is likely that they will bring ticks into homes and businesses. Buildings are safe from ticks, but people and pets are not. In fact, having ticks indoors can make people highly uncomfortable and even put them in danger of getting sick.
WHAT DO TICKS EAT?
As external parasites, ticks only require blood to survive. This means that they likely will not be found hiding out in pantries and kitchens.
ARE TICKS AGGRESSIVE?
People frequently are repulsed by the idea of living or working among blood-sucking parasites. These feelings only heighten when they learn that ticks do not disengage from hosts until they are completely engorged. This can take hours. With regular meals, tick reproduction is alarmingly quick. What began as a small problem seems to multiply overnight. The danger of being bitten more times rises, making these pests an aggressive species.
DO TICKS CARRY DISEASE?
As if the tick's status as an external parasite were not bad enough, these pests also are vectors for many diseases. Lethal outcomes may arise from some of these sicknesses, making Bensalem tick control imperative.
American dog ticks are recognized for their propensity for spreading Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The symptoms of this illness may include stomach pain, sore muscles, loss of appetite, severe headaches, nausea and vomiting. In addition, American dog ticks are known to be infected with and transmit tularemia. Vomiting, diarrhea, mouth ulcers and swollen tonsils are just some of the symptoms of this disease.
Most people have heard of Lyme disease. This serious illness commonly is transmitted by black legged ticks. Common symptoms of this sickness may include extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, chills, fever, rashes and all-over aches. Symptoms may become dire if the infected person does not receive prompt medical attention.
Powassan virus, which can kill patients, is spread by ground hog ticks. People who have been to wilderness areas and then develop symptoms like problems speaking, poor coordination, vomiting, fever, weakness and seizures may have this virus and require a trip to the emergency room.
HOW TO DETECT TICKS
Signs of a possible tick issue include:
• Discovering ticks hiding in clothing or outdoor gear • Needing to remove ticks from people or pets • Finding unexplained bite marks • Developing unfamiliar symptoms of physical illness after spending time outdoors
HOW TO PREVENT TICKS
To help prevent ticks the following steps should be taken:
• Liberally spraying themselves with insect repellent before going outdoors • Choosing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when visiting wilderness areas • Tucking pant hems into boots or socks • Doing tick checks of all people, pets and gear before getting back in the car • Taking a shower immediately upon returning home • Washing all clothing in hot, soapy water
HOW TO TREAT FOR TICKS
At Newtown Termite & Pest Control, we take tick problems seriously. That's why we employ a comprehensive system based on both treatment and prevention when providing tick control for your Newtown home or business.
Our treatment process includes all of the areas where ticks ate known to hide, including cracks, crevices, around doors, windows, baseboards, carpeting, furniture, and pet areas.
We use only the finest professional-grade products available designed to kill ticks on contact as well as to provide long-lasting protection against future infestations.
Proper tick removal begins with a thorough inspection. If you suspect you may have a tick problem, call Newtown today to schedule a free inspection.
