Tick season is here! Ticks are among the most problematic pests in the world. Not only do they bite people and exsanguinate wildlife, but ticks can also carry a multitude of transmissible diseases and are notoriously hard to kill. How did ticks earn their reputation as invincible arachnids? Here’s what these bloodsucking scourges can endure:
They Can Survive Under Water
Think a bath or swim will kill off any crawling or attached ticks? Think again! These tiny, blood-sucking terrors can survive almost three days submerged underwater. Ticks trap air using tiny hairs on their body, allowing them to absorb oxygen even while underwater. Ticks only need to breathe between 1 and 15 times per hour, so the air stored on their bodies can last up to 72 hours. So, bathing won’t cut it if you’re trying to get rid of ticks. This also means that ticks easily survive your washing machine cycle.
They’re Uncrushable
If you’ve ever tried to crush a tick between your fingers, you know that it’s virtually impossible. But what makes ticks so tough? Their hard, flat bodies are designed to make them less noticeable to their hosts, but they also serve the added purpose of making them difficult to squish. The soft, fleshy surface of your fingertips can’t easily apply the pressure required to kill ticks via crushing. Their flat body shape also makes it difficult to squish them other flat objects, such as the soles of your shoe.
They Can Handle Extreme Temperatures
Ticks can also survive extreme temperatures. Due to their ability to hide and enter diapause, ticks can survive temperatures as low as -18 F. Ticks are some of the first pests to emerge from hiding during late Winter and early Spring, with overwintering ticks beginning to stir when temperatures break 40 degrees. They can also take the heat. Ticks start to dehydrate rapidly once the temperature reaches around 95 degrees, but if the humidity is high, ticks can endure even more heat. Temps higher than 130 degrees will usually kill them over the course of 6 minutes. This means that while ticks can survive your washing machine cycle, they cannot survive the dryer.
They Can Go Long Periods Without Eating
Ticks may be voracious when they find a host, but they can also endure without food for long stretches. The length of time they can go without a meal varies by species. Some species, such as dog ticks, can survive for up to 2 years without feeding. This means that ticks may be able to survive in your home, waiting for an unsuspecting host to come within their reach.
They Require Proper Technique
Not only are ticks difficult to kill due to the circumstances they can withstand, but it is also dangerous to kill them incorrectly if they are attached to a host. When a tick finds a food source, it does not want to let go. Its mouthparts pierce deep in the skin and are specially designed for maximum grip. Twisting a tick while pulling it off can separate the body from the mouthparts, which can increase the risk of infection. Never squeeze an attached tick, as this can force infected fluids from the tick into your bloodstream.
How To Remove A Tick Safely:
- Grab the tick by the head: Grab as close as you can to where it’s attached to your skin using clean, fine-tipped tweezers
- Pull the tick steadily upward: Pull the tick upward so the body is perpendicular to the bite area. Do not squeeze, jerk, or twist the body of the tick to avoid breaking the mouth parts off in the skin.
- Clean bite area: Clean the sitewith alcohol or soap and water
- Discard live ticks safely: You may dispose of ticks by flushing them down the toilet, wrapping them tightly in tape, or putting them in a container with alcohol.
Monitor bite area for two weeks: Observe the bite and the surrounding area for a spreading, red rash and/or flu-like symptoms
Prevention:
When it comes to persistent pests like ticks, prevention is the best defense.
- Remove tick breeding areas on your property: Brush piles, tall grass, and lawn debris are favored hiding spots for ticks
- Avoid tick hotspots: Stay on trails when walking or hiking and avoid tall grass and brushy areas
- Use EPA-recommended repellents: Recommendations can be found here
- Perform tick checks after going outside: Check clothing, bodies, and pets for ticks after going outside.
Consider Yard Treatment
Pest control service professionals can accurately target ticks where they breed and nest, reducing their population and your risk of tick-borne illness. If you’re dealing with an infestation that’s more than you can handle on your own, don’t hesitate to call in the experts.
Trouble with ticks? Contact us today for a free quote!