Tick control can be notoriously difficult to achieve for Bucks County area residents. At the same time, tick control is critical because these tiny creatures are responsible for spreading many serious illnesses.
In fact, statistics in recent years suggest that more people than ever before are being diagnosed with sicknesses that have their origins in exposure to ticks, though the exact reasons remain unknown. Accordingly, following appropriate tick control protocols is crucial in the effort to protect people from illness.
People may be exposed to ticks when they venture into forested areas or meadows. However, it also is possible that a tick infestation may be occurring on a residential or commercial property. When this is the case, species such as the American dog tick, blacklegged ticks and groundhog ticks are serious causes of concern. Regular pest control inspections and treatments are the only way to manage the tick population.
WHAT DO TICKS LOOK LIKE?
To the east of the Rocky Mountains, the American dog tick is a common pest. Sometimes referred to as a wood tick, this pest makes dogs its main host, but they can feed on people too. Ticks are arachnids, which means that they have eight legs. The American dog tick may be identified by its brown or reddish-brown body with silver or gray marks adorning the dorsal shield. Before a meal, female American dog ticks are only five millimeters long, but she will attain a size of 15 millimeters after eating.
Blacklegged ticks, or deer ticks, are slightly smaller. Known for its habit of feeding on people and deer, the blacklegged tick is a known vector for Lyme disease. Most females measure approximately three millimeters before feeding, but they grow considerably with a blood meal. The bodies of both genders are flat and oval with soft shells. Blacklegged ticks are so named because their legs, mouthparts and shield are darker than their orangish-brown bodies. After feeding, the female's abdomen appears noticeably darker.
Smaller than most ticks, the groundhog tick may be the approximate size of a sesame seed. Females are reddish-brown and have a dorsal shield that is absent from the males.
WHERE DO TICKS LIVE?
Where vegetation is lush and tall, ticks are likely to be found. Accordingly, people who frequently hike or engage in other activities in meadows, pastures and forests are particularly prone to picking up ticks.
Having a host is essential to the tick's survival. In fact, in three of the tick's four life stages, a blood meal is required to survive to the next stage. Consequently, ticks have adapted to better ensure their chances of locating an appropriate host.
According to research, ticks can detect mammals through body odors and breath as well as body heat, moisture and vibrations. Thanks to these well-developed senses, ticks are able to find trails and other places where people frequently go. Unable to fly or jump, ticks cling to a tall blade of grass or other foliage with their front legs extended. When a host passes by, the tick's front legs cling to it, and the pest will remain attached for several days to obtain a full blood meal.
WHAT DO TICKS EAT?
Mammal blood is the main component of the tick's diet. The various tick species have specific host preferences, which means that anything from a field mouse to a person could serve as a host.
DO TICKS BITE?
Yes.
As with the bed bug, ticks feed on a blood diet obtained from human and non-human hosts which is needed for survival as it passes through its various life stages.
ARE TICKS AGGRESSIVE?
Ticks are not aggressive in the sense that they do not attack people or animals as a means of self-defense. Nonetheless, they will stay attached to a host for as long as is required to obtain a complete meal. Ticks are able to persist on a host for days thanks to their hook-like fingers and the hooks at the terminus of the hypostome, which is the body part that ticks use to extract blood from the host.
The tick automatically falls off once engorged, but most people prefer to remove ticks with tweezers upon discovery.
DO TICKS CARRY DISEASE?
Yes.
The American dog tick is known to transmit diseases such as tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever to people. Additionally, the bite of the American dog tick is responsible for canine tick paralysis. Diseases that are spread by the lone star tick include ehrlichiosis, rickettsiosis, theileriosis and tularemia.
Of all of the tick species that are found in the local region, the blacklegged tick is the most feared because, in addition to other illnesses, it spreads Lyme disease. This illness may be spread throughout most of the year, though such cases are rare in the winter. People who have been infected with Lyme disease may experience initial symptoms like chills, headaches, fever, extreme fatigue, swelling of the lymph nodes and general aches in the joints and muscles.
If Lyme disease is not diagnosed and treated, the symptoms worsen, and the illness can prove to be fatal.
HOW TO DETECT TICKS
Signs of a tick presence include:
• Ticks attached to clothing, pets, children or any articles used outdoors • The development of symptoms like headache, chills and fevers without a known cause
HOW TO PREVENT TICKS
To help prevent ticks the following steps should be taken:
• Look for ticks on dogs and clothing after spending time in the outdoors • Cover the extremities and wear closed-toe shoes on hikes • Pant legs can be tucked into boots or socks when hiking • Before entering the home after being outdoors, perform a thorough tick check • Take a shower and launder clothing after hiking and camping
HOW TO TREAT FOR TICKS
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 Bucks County 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.
