General Tick Biology and Control

Ticks are not insects. They are arthropods that are more closely related to spiders. Adult ticks have 8 legs while insects have 6 legs. Ticks are ectoparasites, meaning that they must have a host for most of their life cycle to survive and reproduce. The tick life-cycle includes an egg, larval, nymphal and adult stage. The larval stage of the tick has 6 legs, but when it molts to the nymphal stage, there are 8 legs (Fig. 1). Ticks have physiological and behavioral characteristics that make them more resistant to desiccation relative to other pests.

How do the ticks get to my yard in the first place? Ticks don't travel very far on their own and most likely hitch a ride on a warm-blooded host. A host could be a pet dog but even if you don't have pets, ticks can be brought in on mice, squirrels and other rodents.

How do I get rid of ticks on my property? First, identify the tick with which you are dealing. A species identification can give a lot of information that will be useful in devising a control plan. In general, the best solution is to:

• treat or eliminate the host animal because ticks are ectoparasites. Pets should be washed with an insecticidal/acaricidal soap registered for pet care or a mild detergent. Acaricides are chemicals that kill ticks. (Insecticides are chemicals that kill insects.) If you don't have pets, look for evidence of rodent or wildlife activity and set traps to remove these animals. Keep garbage cans tightly covered to discourage opossums, raccoons, and other wildlife from frequenting your property to feed.
• selectively use an acaricide (see Table 1, below). Acaricides alone are not effective in eliminating a tick problem, but they may provide some relief. Treat pet areas on the same day that you treat the pet. Acaricides generally will not work well unless the tick is hit directly. You may also elect to treat the area of use, such as a portion of your yard just before a picnic. Be sure to always follow label direction and allow sufficient time for the acaricide to dry before allowing people to enter the area. Also, consider contracting the services of a professional pest control operator who has the training and equipment to take care of the ticks and possible associations with rodents and other wildlife.

What harm can ticks do besides cause itching from their bites? Some ticks can carry the disease-causing agents for Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Therefore, minimizing your exposure to tick bites is important.

How can I minimize my exposure to ticks?

• Wear light colored clothing in wooded areas or places that ticks are known to infest. Ticks are easier to see against light colors making them easy to remove before they attach.
• Tuck pant legs into socks, boots or shoes to prevent ticks from crawling up under clothing.
• Apply an insect repellent to boot or shoe tops, around the waist and on exposed skin. In heavily infested areas, permethrin on clothing may be warranted. Permethrin is not for use on skin. Most insect repellents that are used against mosquitoes usually work well against ticks.
• Examine yourself carefully for ticks after leaving the woods or tick infested area. Check especially the hair, shoulders, armpits, waist, and inner thighs. Ticks normally must attach for several hours before the disease agent is passed from tick to man. Therefore, if ticks are removed promptly, the chances of getting Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are greatly reduced.
• Attached ticks should be carefully removed using a pair of fine tweezers. Firmly grasp the tick at the point closest to where it has attached and pull with a slow steady motion. You should feel a "pop" as the tick's mouthparts are pulled free. Disinfect the bite with alcohol or iodine. Avoid removing the ticks with bare fingers. If the tick is crushed, there is a risk of introducing the disease agent via infected tick tissues through cuts or abrasions of the skin.
• Check your pets, especially dogs, for ticks as often as possible. Pets that stay outside most of the time can pick up ticks and bring them into the home. Remove ticks from pets in the same way you would remove them from yourself.