Pests Attacking Man
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Overview
There are two general types of ticks-those with soft bodies and those with hard bodies. Both varieties are usually small, but some can range up to ½ inch in size. Female ticks are capable of massive feeding, and can grow over ten times their normal size when gorging upon blood-up to the size of a grape. Ticks have no true head, but do have well-developed mouth parts. They can survive for quite some time, even years, without food. Ticks lie in wait upon the ends of plants, where they sense vibrations from the motion of passing mammals. They wave their legs in the air and hope to catch on to their next host. They will readily attach to humans and pets, making themselves a true pest. Some carry diseases which can cause paralysis, tissue decay, and even death. Lyme Disease is the most frequently discussed tick-borne disease. It is transmitted by the Western Black-legged Tick, a hard-bodies variety. It has become a concern for public health departments throughout the United States.
Removal of a tick is a delicate process. Never crush an attached tick as it will pass organisms into your skin that way. Firmly grasp the tick with tweezers as close to the skin as possible, and pull with a steady pressure. It may take some time to get the tick to release its grasp, and adding some kerosene to the spot may help. Wash the infected area with soap and water, and use an antiseptic. If you become ill after a tick bite, or cannot completely remove the tick, see your doctor.
Life Cycle:
Females drop to the ground after feeding, and it is there that they lay their eggs. The eggs take from several days to weeks to hatch. In the different tick varieties, between 1000-5000 eggs can be produced in one season. After the larvae hatch, they look for a suitable host, and eventually develop into nymphs. They can live for long periods before finding their suitable host. The nymphs also feed upon blood, and can also survive long periods without having a host. They are known as 3-host insects. Once they feed three times, they molt and develop into adult ticks which are capable of reproducing.
