Ticks
Ticks suck. Literally. They feast on blood, and they spread disease. Ticks are members of the arachnid family. Marked by their 8 legs and lack of body segments. There are over 850 different species, all with a great lust for blood. These ectoparasites survive through blood sucking on whatever mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian that they can creep up on.
Their bodies tend to be small and flat, sometimes no bigger than a sesame seed. They are stealthy, hardy and have a vice like grip on their host.
They find You Through Heat, Breath and Odor
Ticks can locate hosts by sensing their body heat, breath, body odors, moisture and even vibrations. They will position themselves on a well used path and will just hang out on a blade of grass. Just waiting for someone or something to walk by.
When a deer, rabbit or toddler walks by the tick just climbs aboard. Their eight legs are covered in spiny little hairs, punctuated by a tiny claw at the end. All great for grasping onto it’s host.
Once in position the tick grabs the skin and slices into it before inserting it’s feeding tube. Some ticks secrete a cement like goo that locks their mouth parts in place so they can’t fall off while feeding. Their saliva has a type of anti-coagulant in it that keeps the hosts blood from clotting so they can keep sucking it up.
Fish Hook Like Barbs
Many tick mouth parts contain fish hook like barbs that point backward which makes them hard to pull out once they have started feeding.
Another reason to dislike ticks is their tendency to spread disease. If a host has a blood borne infection the ticks will suck up that pathogen along with the blood and then transmit it to their next host through their saliva.
A Long List of Diseases
he list of diseases that ticks can spread is long and scary. Ranging from Lyme disease, to Colorado and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, Meningo-Encephalitis, African Tick Bite Fever, Tick Paralysis, and on and on.
Symptoms of these ailments include fever, headache, rashes, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue and if left untreated heart and nervous system problems. Even temporary paralysis.
If you suspect tick activity on your property or just want to keep them away from yourself and your family we recommend that you contact a pest control professional who will be able to help with this.