TICK INFORMATION SHEET
LIFE CYCLE/ACTIVITY PERIODS
Most species of ticks live in the woods and fields
and simply catch a ride and feed on passing people
and animals. Few species occur as pests in the home.
However, the brown dog tick, often becomes established
where dogs live and can become very numerous in
kennels and homes. There are four stages in the
lifecycle of ticks: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
In late winter or early spring after engorgement,
the female tick deposits a single eggmass containing
several thousand eggs. The majority of the eggs
hatch from July to September into tiny six-legged
larvae. Larvae remain at ground level in leaf litter
or similar debris and wait for a suitable host to
pass by. The peak activity period of adult ticks
in New Jersey is between mid-October and early December.
Those adults failing to acquire hosts in the fall
will enter diapause and become active again the
ensuing spring from mid-March through April. In
addition, ticks also overwinter and reproduce during
mild winter weather whenever the temperature is
above 36 degrees. Therefore, precautions should
always be taken when you or your pet frequent areas
prone to tick infestations.
HEALTH FACTORS
In addition to creating annoyance and discomfort,
ticks are efficient vectors of a number of serious
diseases. The ability of ticks to feed on a variety
of hosts provides the basis for disease transmission.
Ticks are blood-sucking ectoparasites of mammals,
birds and reptiles. A vector is an animal which
is capable of transmitting a pathogen or neurotoxin
from one organism to another. A pathogen is an organism
which causes a viral or bacterial disease in the
one receiving it, such as encephalitis, Rocky Mountain
spotted fever, endemic typhus or lymes disease.
METHODS OF CONTROL
Methods of control of the brown dog tick, other
than application of pesticides, are somewhat limited.
But, at the same time, recognizing that this is
a pest not of the fields and woods, but rather only
of areas which dogs frequent, there is room for
hope. The wood tick and deer tick are creatures
of the woods and fields. The same form of treatment
useful for the brown dog tick will also be useful
in control of the wood tick and deer tick. Maintenance
of weed and brush-free premises, as well as properly
mowed lawns, will help to forestall all tick population
buildup. Complete treatment of the home, yard and
pet is required, including one retreatment of the
entire premises, structure and pet approximately
one month later to eliminate the larvae and nymphs
hatched from eggs not affected by the initial pesticide
application.
For the protection of you and your pet, It is our
professional recommendation that three annual treatments
be performed, in the Spring, Summer and Fall to
help maintain a tick free environment.
Prompt Courteous Service · Complete Pest
& Wildlife Control
488 Stagecoach Road · Millstone Township,
NJ 08510-1407
Phone: (609) 208-1024 · Fax: (609) 208-1026
Visit Our Web Site: www.jrgpest.com
LYME DISEASE TICK ALERT
TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE
Lyme Disease is spread by the tiny deer tick. Ticks
feed on blood, and infected ticks transmit the disease
as they feed. The deer tick prefers to feed on wild
animals. How-ever, it will also feed on dogs, cats,
livestock, and humans. When people live near or
visit places where ticks live, they are at high
risk of contracting Lyme Disease.
FAVORITE TICK HABITATS
Deer ticks prefer to live in dense, mature woods
with a thick undergrowth of shrubs and small trees.
They can also be found, to a lesser degree, along
the edge of the woods where it meets the lawn. This
can be controlled by thinning out any shrub vegetation
in this area. Ticks are sometimes found in the lawn
itself. This can be controlled by regular mowing.
Mowed lawns are too hot and dry to sustain the life
of the tiny deer tick. It prefers the cool, moist
woodlands where it has a better chance of finding
an animal host.
RISK OF INFECTION FACTORS
The following factors may influence your risk of
being bitten by a tick. Many of them encourage wildlife
near the home, and these animals may carry ticks.
Mice, especially, are often hosts of immature ticks
that are carriers of Lyme Disease.
· Yard surrounded by dense woods
· Birdbaths and bird feeders
· Outdoor pets that come indoors
· Woodpiles, brushpiles, stone and rock fences
· Viewing deer from windows
· Swingsets and tree-houses located in the
woods
Landscapers, farmers, utility line workers and others
who work at outdoor occupations are especially at
risk from tick bites. The same holds true for those
who participate in outdoor recreational activ-ities,
such as camping, fish-ing, hiking, and hunting.
PERSONAL PROTECTION
To reduce the risk of tick bites, precautions should
be
taken when participating in outdoor activities,
especially those in the woods.
Before entering the woods:
· Wear light colored clothing - ticks are
dark colored and are easier to see against a light
background
· Wear long pants and tuck them into socks
· Wear long sleeves, a hat, and closed shoes
· Put on tick repellent
In the woods:
· Avoid tall grass and shrub areas
· Walk on the widest trails
Upon returning home:
· Inspect your clothing and your body for
ticks
· Search through hair, around hairline and
neck
· Look in ears, around eyes, underarms and
groin
· Take a shower
· Immediately wash clothing. Place clean
clothes in the dryer at a high temperature for one
half hour
Every night:
· Inspect children and pets for ticks
TICK REPELLENTS
Repellents are effective against ticks, especially
pro-
ducts containing Permethrin or DEET. Since repellents
can be absorbed through the skin, adverse reactions
are possible. Adhere to the fol-lowing when using
repellents:
· Do not use DEET products with a concentration
greater than fifty percent on children.
· Apply repellents sparingly only to exposed
clothing and skin. Saturation does not increase
efficiency.
· Always follow the directions on the label.
FINDING TICKS
The deer ticks that transmit Lyme Disease are as
small as a pinhead. Deer ticks are active year round
as long as the temperature is above 35 degrees.
However, peak activity months are May and June (nymphs),
and October through November (adults). Ticks do
not fly, jump, or drop from trees. They inhabit
shrubby vegetation and wait for an animal or a person
to brush by. They then grasp onto the fur or skin
and begin to crawl upward. Ticks will wander on
the body for thirty to sixty minutes before inserting
their mouthparts to feed. Infected deer ticks must
feed a minimum of twelve hours before they
begin transmission of the Lyme Disease bacteria.
For this reason, it is extremely important to remove
ticks as soon as possible.
REMOVING TICKS
Ticks should be removed with tweezers (fine point
bent style tweezers are best). A magnifying glass
is also helpful. Using the tweezers, grasp the tick
as close to the person’s skin as possible
and pull outward with a slow and steady motion.
It is extremely important to remove all parts of
the tick completely. Never try to remove a tick
with alcohol, nail polish, hot matches, or petroleum
jelly. These methods can traumatize the tick into
regurgitating its stomach contents, which may include
the Lyme Disease bacteria. Always save the tick
by placing it in a sealed jar. Add a moist cotton
ball to the jar, and store it in the refrigerator.
This is important evidence should a physician suspect
that a person has developed a case of Lyme Disease.
After removing the tick, keep a close watch on the
bite area, and be alert for early symptoms of Lyme
Disease. Also jot down the date of the tick bite,
and save it for later referral by a physician or
laboratory.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF INFECTION
Lyme Disease generally occurs in stages, with difference
symptoms at each
stage. The first stage is
usually marked by a flu-like illness and a rash.
Stage one includes:
· Fatigue
· Chills and Fever
· Headache
· Muscle and Joint Pain
· Swollen Lymph Nodes
· Rash
The rash which frequently appears as one or more
circular, red patches may vary in size. They are
most often found on the thigh, groin, armpit, or
trunk. When the victim is a young child, the rash
sometimes appears on the face. The center of these
patches may clear as they enlarge, resulting in
a “bulls-eye” pattern. The patches may
be warm, but they are rarely painful. Later Symptoms:
Some clinical signs and symptoms of Lyme Disease
do not appear for several weeks or even months,
after the onset of the infection. These include:
· Arthritis
· Neurological Problems
· Cardiac Abnormalities.
TREATMENT
If you suspect that a member of your family is
infected with the Lyme Disease bacteria, it is extremely
important to see your physician. The method of treatment
usually requires the administration of antibiotics.
Lyme Disease patients treated in the early stage
of the disease, when they are experiencing only
a rash and flu-like symptoms, usually respond well
to therapy and recover rapidly.
For Further Information Call
1-800-792-8831
NJ State Dept of Health - Dept of Epidemilogy
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