American Dog Tick

The Lone Star or seed tick is also becoming prevalent. Adults are 1/8 inch long and brown. The nymph stage is most commonly the stage found on humans and they are about the size of a pinhead, hence the nickname seed tick. It is capable of transmitting all of the diseases a dog tick can plus a bacteria that is related to Lyme Disease. This tick is most active April through July.

The third tick we are concerned with is the Blacklegged or Deer tick. This tick is responsible for the transmission of Lyme Disease. The larvae of these ticks hatch in the spring and feed primarily on mice. The following spring they will molt into nymphs that will feed on larger animals and humans. That fall the nymphs will molt into adults which will feed primarily on deer. The adult ticks are reddish brown and 1/8 inch long or abut half the size of a dog tick.

With the seeming increase of tick born illnesses, it is well worthwhile to take a few preventive measures. The following may be helpful:

1. Tape (with duct tape or something similar) the area where your pants and socks meet.
   
2. Use repellent containing DEET or permethrin to treat clothing only
   
3. Walk in the center of trails so weeds don’t brush against you
   
4. Check every two to three hours for ticks. Normally a tick must be attached for four or more hours in order to transmit disease.
   
5. Remove any tick promptly. The best way is to grasp it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible, then gently and firmly pull straight out
   
6. Wash the bite area and apply antiseptic
   
7. Most importantly, if you have an unexplained illness with a fever or rash, contact a physician. Tick born diseases can be treated with the correct antibiotics.