Ticks are external parasites and vectors of dangerous diseases. Because they are vectors, the diseases don’t originate from the tick, but instead, they can carry and transmit them to hosts., which means not all ticks carry the disease. The most common vector of Lyme disease is deer ticks. Even though their preferred host is the deer, people, and other animals are viable hosts as well.
Deer ticks are also known as black-legged ticks, which are orange-brown with darker-colored legs and are 1/8th of an inch, about the size of a sesame seed before feeding. Ticks are arachnids, which means they have eight legs, an oval-shaped body, no antenna, and no wings.
Although ticks are small, the diseases they spread can be extremely dangerous, especially Lyme disease. This is why as a Frisco, Texas resident, you should be aware of how ticks find a host, how to catch ticks early, and how to reduce tick populations on your property.
How Deer Ticks Find Hosts
Deer ticks need moist soil to reproduce, which is why they rarely make their way inside. If you find a tick in your home, it was most likely carried in by someone or a pet. Ticks can’t fly or jump, so they have to wait for a potential host to brush up against where they are sitting. Common waiting locations are tall grasses next to bonds, along roadways, and fence lines. They may also be found on the edge of wooded trails.
Deer ticks have an anesthetic in their saliva, which is why you might not notice the bite until after it has happened. A bite from a deer tick will vary in appearance depending on skin tone. The bite site will be red on light skin, while it can be purple or brown on dark skin. Not every bite from a tick will result in Lyme disease, even if the tick is infected. However, if the tick carries Lyme disease, there will be a distinctive bull’s-eye marking around the bite.
Why Spotting Ticks Early Is Key
Spotting ticks early and removing them promptly in the correct manner is critical. After coming inside from areas of potential risk, you should:
- 1. Check yourself, family members, and pets
- 2. Take a hot shower
- 3. Dry clothing in a hot dryer
If you do have a tick on you, you need to:
- 1. Use fine-point tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- 2. Don’t crush or puncture the tick
- 3. Pull gently without jerking or twisting
- 4. Use rubbing alcohol or iodine on the bite site and wash your hands
- 5. Dispose of the tick right away
How To Reduce Tick Populations
People are not the only ones who think Frisco is a great place to live. Ticks also like the area because of the weather, as they do well in high humidity and warm temperatures. Because of this, it is not uncommon to have ticks on your property. However, a large population of ticks in your yard is also dangerous, so you should implement the following tips to reduce their presence:
- Use a three-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between your yard and surrounding wooded areas
- Trim wooded areas around the perimeter of your property
- Remove debris from your yard, including grass and leaf piles
- Keep your lawn cut short
The best way to reduce tick populations on your property is with professional home pest control services. If you live in the Frisco area, contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for expert care and guaranteed results.