How much do you know about ticks? Spring means increased tick activity in the Capital Region. Let’s take a closer look at these common pests:
- Ticks are external parasites that feed on the blood of humans, pets and wild animals.
- Ticks are arachnids, relatives of spiders, mites and scorpions.
- Ticks are very old, dating back to the Cretaceous period, around 100 million years ago.
- The Lonestar tick has an interesting effect on a small number of people. Some people that are bitten by Lonestar ticks have since developed an allergy to red meat, even if they had previously been avid meat-eaters.
- Ticks are widely distributed around the world, especially in warm, humid climates.
- Ticks can live up to two to three years, so in parts of the country where it gets cold in the winter, they don’t just die off. However, when temperatures drop below freezing, not all ticks will survive, but the healthy and hearty ones will.
- Ticks are divided into two main types: hard and soft. Hard ticks are found in the woods, while soft ticks have leathery skin and are found in caves, cabins and on birds.
- Ticks live in tall grass or shrubs and crawl onto their hosts. They do not jump, fly, or drop from trees.
- Ticks are not born with any diseases, but instead pick up infectious diseases from their hosts where they get their blood meals. It is not until the lymph or adult phase that they can spread these diseases.
- Ticks can carry and transmit various diseases to humans and animals.
If you would like to learn about tick control options for your home, please contact us for a free inspection. We offer residential pest control and commercial pest control for the greater Capital District area including Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties.