Some people in Levittown know this common pest as the wood tick. Regardless of what it is called, this hard tick harbors potentially harmful bacteria that can cause illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever in people.
Anyone who spends time in the outdoors during the spring and summer may encounter one or more American dog ticks. Although they are most likely to be found in wilderness areas, the species is frequently seen in suburban and urban areas. Often, American dog ticks are brought back to homes and businesses after people and their pets have spent some time hiking or camping.
American dog ticks have the ability to turn any outdoor adventure into a nightmare. This is why it is sensible for people to do all that they can to avoid picking up a tick. Precautions such as wearing long sleeves and tucking pant hems into boots are great ideas that protect people from becoming a host to an American dog tick. It is further helpful for people to check their dogs for signs of an infesting tick before going home, which can help to avoid spreading the problem.
What can property owners do when American dog ticks invade? The smartest and most reliable option is to call a local pest management company. Between perimeter treatments and guidance that helps to protect the premises in all seasons, an exterminator is a powerful ally in the fight against American dog tick infestations.
WHAT DO
AMERICAN DOG TICKS
LOOK LIKE?
Like many other tick species, American dog ticks have a flat, oval body shape. Usually brown with markings in gray or white, the tick will only be about five millimeters long if it has been a while since it had a meal. A well-fed American dog tick may be as long as 15 millimeters. Larvae of the species have only six legs, but they grow two additional legs at the nymph stage. These additional legs are retained in adulthood, making ticks part of the arachnid family. Their numerous legs are an adaptation that helps the ticks to maneuver through any environment in which they find themselves, including human or dog hair.
WHERE DO
AMERICAN DOG TICKS
LIVE?
In addition to Levittown, American dog ticks make their home across the eastern United States and even into the Midwest. They are most frequently encountered in outdoor recreation areas like campgrounds and along hiking or biking trails. These pests also are picked up along roads and paths, but it is relatively rare to find them indoors.
Using their multiple legs, the American dog tick sets itself up on a tall plant or blade of grass, waiting for a potential host to walk by. The tick can smell the host and also feel the vibration as the animal or person passes them. Rapidly, they latch onto the host and begin looking for a good place to feed. With their small size, it can be really difficult to find a tick that is attached to a furry animal like a dog.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY AMERICAN DOG TICKS
American dog ticks do not seek to come inside unless they are carried there by a host. Once indoors, they will drop off of the host after they have eaten their fill. This can mean the beginning of an indoor infestation in a residence or commercial setting.
An indoor infestation of American dog ticks does not cause property damage, but it certainly can be unsettling for the humans and pets that also live or work in the space. No one enjoys the thought of being a host to a blood-sucking parasite. Moreover, getting rid of a tick infestation can seem like an endless, uphill battle. The eggs, larvae and nymphs are tiny, as are the adults. This is why it always is wise to trust an exterminator with the job.
Even if the American dog ticks have not come indoors, they can still wreak havoc. Anyone who wants to guard themselves and their property against being bitten by a tick is advised to seek professional pest control with all possible speed.
WHAT DO TICKS EAT?
Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of people or animals. While the larvae and nymphs are most likely to feed on small rodents, the adults prefer to feed on dogs or cattle. Other animals also may serve this purpose, including humans. American dog ticks are attracted to hosts by their scent.
ARE
AMERICAN DOG TICKS
AGGRESSIVE?
Females generally are more aggressive than males. This is because the males do not require as much of a blood meal. Once they attach themselves to a host, they only remain there for one or two days before dropping off and seeking a mate. Females seem to have an almost unquenchable appetite for blood. They stay attached to a host for a week or longer until they are fully engorged. Dropping off onto leaf litter or the floor, the female will lay more than 4,000 eggs before she dies.
With so many potential young, it is easy to see how American dog tick infestations can seem aggressive and intense.
DO
AMERICAN DOG TICKS CARRY DISEASE?
Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia are just two of the diseases that American dog ticks are known to spread.
People who have been bitten by a tick and develop symptoms such as loss of appetite, fever, muscle pain, headache, rash, stomach pain and nausea may be suffering from the early stages of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. A fever often is the first sign of the illness, with the rash showing up about two to four days later. Severe cases may lead to permanent physical damage, amputation due to damage to blood vessels, hearing loss or paralysis.
Swollen and painful lymph glands, ulcers on the skin, sore throat, inflamed eyes, sores in the mouth and diarrhea are a few of the most common symptoms of tularemia. Pneumonia is a frequent complication with this disease, possibly leading to problems with breathing, chest pain and respiratory failure.
HOW TO DETECT AMERICAN DOG TICKS
Signs of tick presence include:
• Visual sightings of ticks indoors or outdoors • Discovering ticks on pets
HOW TO PREVENT AMERICAN DOG TICKS
To help prevent ticks the following steps should be taken: • Use insect repellent whenever spending time outdoors • Wear long pants and sleeves when hiking, camping or going to outdoor recreation areas • Tuck pant hems into boots or socks • Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot • Check dogs for ticks before returning from outdoor recreation • Check children and adults for ticks before getting back in the car • Reduce outdoor clutter around buildings • Keep lawns trimmed to a shorter height • Trim trees, plants and shrubs
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 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.
