deer tick
Spring and it’s warming days in upon us. Hungry blood thirsty
ticks are emerging from a long winter of hibernation looking for a host to feed on. Don’t become one of their victims.
These little vampires can be found every where. In the woods, pastures, meadows, flower and vegetable gardens. They arrive hitching a ride on wildlife, rabbits, squirrels and even birds can bring these vampires into your yard and garden.
Ticks are carriers of a number of diseases.
* Anaplasmosis is transmitted to humans by tick bites primarily from the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern and upper midwestern U.S. and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) along the Pacific coast.
* Babesiosis is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and is found primarily in the eastern U.S.
* Ehrlichiosis is transmitted to humans by the lone star tick (Ambylomma americanum), found primarily in the southcentral and eastern U.S.
* Lyme disease is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern U.S. and upper Midwestern U.S. and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) along the Pacific coast.
* Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis is transmitted to humans by the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum).
* Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is transmitted by the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sangunineus) in the U.S. The brown dog tick and other tick species are associated with RMSF in Central and South America.
* STARI (Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness) is transmitted via bites from the lone star tick (Ambylomma americanum), found in the southeastern and eastern U.S.
* Tickborne relapsing fever (TBRF) is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected soft ticks. TBRF has been reported in 15 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming and is associated with sleeping in rustic cabins and vacation homes.
* Tularemia is transmitted to humans by the dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), the wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Tularemia occurs throughout the U.S.
* 364D Rickettsiosis (Rickettsia phillipi, proposed) is transmitted to humans by the Pacific Coast tick (Dermacentor occidentalis ticks). This is a new disease that has been found in California.
Life history and habits. Ticks have a four-stage life cycle. The egg hatches into a six-legged larva, or seed tick. After a blood meal, the larva molts (sheds its skin) and becomes an eight-legged nymph. After another blood meal, the nymph molts and becomes an adult. The adult female then attaches to a warm-blooded animal, engorges on blood, mates, leaves the host animal, deposits several thousand eggs and dies. Adults can live a year or more without feeding, but they must feed before mating.
Tick control. U. S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine
how to remove a tick
Why is common sense so uncommon?
Don’t be Shy. Leave me your comment(s)
Pingback: Ticks — Days Without Tick Bites… « Animal By Nature
Pingback: Check your horse for ticks this spring! « Triton Barn Systems