The most frequent questions about ticks that pest control companies are asked is how to identify them. When ticks are found after they have bitten someone or something, they can appear quite different than what they would when lying on the ground. When crawling, ticks will typically appear brown or black with a pattern on their tear-shaped bodies. They are wider than they are thick. While they are large enough to be spotted without magnification they are still quite small - smaller than an apple seed. After biting though, they become engorged with blood rather quickly. At this point, they may appear white or silvery and round. However, males do not grow as much in size when engorged, as compared to the females of the species.
The problematic parasites begin as eggs, which are formed during mating. This will generally occur while the male and female are on the body of the host animal. The female will let go long enough to deposit her eggs elsewhere. A single female can lay up to ten thousand eggs or more at once.
After hatching, the larvae must find a host. This first ‘meal’ is integral, as it will provide them the nourishment needed to shed their skin and move into the next stage of their life. The species has developed the ability to withstand long periods between feeding as it can be difficult for the larvae to find hosts. Even as adults, ticks can spend long periods of time waiting for a suitable host to move by. Ticks do not jump or fly, they will wait on tall blades of grass or even on the sides of buildings until an animal or human happens upon them.
Another advantage of the species is that most varieties of ticks are able to feed on a wide variety of animals, including birds, frogs, lizards, snakes, and nearly all mammals. Because they attach themselves to migratory birds, tick populations can spread over large areas in a relatively short amount of time.
The fear, when encountering a tick, for most people is Lyme disease. This condition, along with several others, can be carried by the parasites between hosts. For this reason, a tick found on you, your family members, or your pet should be saved in a plastic bag and taken in for testing. Storing it in the baggie with a damp cotton ball will keep it alive longer. Also be sure to keep an eye on any human who has been bit. A rash might not appear until a few, or even a few weeks after the parasite has been removed. If this occurs, medical attention should be sought out. It can be a sign of the onset of Lyme disease.
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