There are some pests that can cause serious medical conditions, and ticks are one such pest. As they suck your blood for sustenance, they can infect you with Lyme disease. If you live in Dallas, you may be at risk of infection. Find out everything you should know about ticks and Lyme disease in your area.
How Ticks Spread Lyme Disease?
Even if you’ve heard of Lyme disease, you might not know much about it or how it’s spread. Although there are several ways in which it can be spread, Lyme is often spread by deer ticks. These ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of humans and other animals. For this reason, they are carriers of diseases. If a tick fed on an animal that had Lyme, the tick can spread the disease to you when it feeds. They don’t cause the disease, they spread it. Not all ticks carry Lyme disease but to prevent the spread, it is important to be cautious about all ticks.
What Do Deer Ticks Look Like?
Male and female deer ticks are similar in appearance. Both genders have flat and oval bodies. However, females are brown with an orange tinge. They have a reddish-brown abdomen that appears darker after they’ve been eating. Identifying a deer tick is one thing, but noticing a tick on you is another. Typically, deer ticks are difficult to spot. First, they travel onto you when you brush past a bush or some tall grass. They tend to bite people in places where they remain hidden, like the groin and in folds of skin. Additionally, their bites don’t cause pain, so they are rarely noticed.
In many cases, people don’t notice a tick bite until the tick is gone. If the tick infected you with Lyme disease, it would leave you with a red, circular rash. The rash resembles a bulls-eye and tells you it’s time to see a doctor. Untreated Lyme disease can be extremely dangerous. Contact a medical professional at the first sign of the disease.
Preventing Bites
If you’re in nature, there are a few ways to prevent tick bites. Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks. The less exposed skin you have, the better. Also, rely on a tick-repellent spray to keep bugs away. Before you buy a repellent, read the ingredients. Sprays with DEET, permethrin, or picaridin tend to be the most effective.
How To Keep Ticks Away From Your Yard
If you don’t want to experience a tick bite, there are a few precautions you should take. There’s no fool-proof way to keep ticks away, but some DIY methods are effective. For one, you should keep your yard clear of debris. Tall grass and uncontrolled shrubs attract wildlife, and that wildlife could carry ticks. By keeping rodents, deer, etc away from your backyard, you limit the chances of ticks appearing on your property. To accomplish this, mow your lawn frequently. Trim your trees and shrubs before they become unruly. If you have any leaf or mulch piles in your yard, remove them or keep them far from your home. Don’t allow piles of junk to accumulate on your property, or wildlife will abound. Another effective method of tick prevention is to keep a barrier between your lawn and wooded areas. For the best results, you should use wood chips or gravel. Ticks don’t like to travel far on foot, so a barrier can be effective.
Work With A Professional
The best way to keep ticks away from your yard is to work with a pest control expert. Contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for tick control assistance. Then you can enjoy your yard without worrying about ticks.