The warm temperatures of summer bring a wide array of pests and one of my least favorites is ticks. If you’ve ever experienced their itchy bite, you know ticks can certainly put a damper on gardening and being outdoors in general. In our area, ticks are present year-round but are the most active during warm weather, from April through September. Understanding ticks, their life cycle, habitat, and the dangers they present is crucial for minimizing the risks they pose to both humans and animals.
Female Black-Legged Deer Tick. Credit: J.F. Butler, UF/IFAS.
Ticks are widely recognized for the transmission of diseases to humans and animals, most notably Lyme disease. Although ticks feed on humans, we are not their preferred blood meal. While there are many species throughout the world, only a few species are able to actually transmit diseases to humans. The black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick, is the main vector for Lyme disease. Although the black-legged tick is not the most prevalent tick in Florida and few cases of Lyme disease have been reported in Florida, it is still important to be aware. Other species that are common in our area are the brown dog tick, the American dog tick, and the lone star tick.
Lone Star Tick, male (left), female (right). Credit: J.F. Butler
Ticks are not insects and are more closely related to spiders. Adult ticks have eight legs. Ticks have four life cycle stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult. All ticks feed on blood during some or all stages on their life. Depending on the species, a female can lay anywhere from 1,000 to 6,500 eggs in her lifetime. When ticks feed, they make a small hole in the skin, attach themselves with their mouthparts, and insert their piercing mouthparts to remove blood.
Research shows that ticks must feed for several hours to transmit disease causing organisms, so quick identification and removal can help reduce tick-borne disease. If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it as soon as you see it. The best way to remove it is with a pair of tweezers. Grasp on the tick’s mouthparts and pull it straight out with firm pressure. Don’t twist or yank on it too quickly as this can cause some of the tick to remain attached to your skin. You should thoroughly clean the area where the tick was and keep an eye out for any sign of infection. If you become ill after a tick bite, contact your physician.
The best way to prevent your yard from becoming a tick haven is to keep your yard mowed and to remove any leaf litter and brush laying around. These places provide refuge for ticks. Beware that wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, deer, and mice harbor ticks so you may want to discourage them from coming to your yard. You should also regularly check pets who might enter tick infested areas.
While outside, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks if entering into tick infested areas. Clothing that is light colored make ticks more visible and easier to pick off. You can apply tick repellent to socks and shoes to prevent them from crawling onto clothing. It’s important to inspect yourself frequently while outside or after working in areas suspected of being infested with ticks! For more information on ticks, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office.
For more information:
- About Ticks and Tickborne Disease | Ticks | CDC
- Ticks and Disease – Solutions for Your Life – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences – UF/IFAS (ufl.edu)
- FOR398/FR469: Prescribed Fire as a Tool for Controlling Tick Populations in the Southeastern United States (ufl.edu)
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