Despite a few unseasonably chilly days, it’s been a warm April. But those few days of chill weren’t nearly cold enough to deal with our pest problems. Mosquitoes are out in full force, biting flies are chugging forth from the woods. Anything that drinks blood in Florida is out in force now. And one of the worst, as always, is the tick. So we’ll discuss a few species of New Port Richey ticks, what they do, and how you can deal with an infestation.
New Port Richey Ticks: Florida Species
Deer Tick
Also known as the black-legged tick, the deer tick is the sole carrier of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease in humans. You can also find this species of tick just about anywhere in the U.S., where they feed on large mammals, as well as humans. They’re small and hard to spot, and teardrop-shaped.
You can find this tick anywhere that there is an abundance of animals to feed on. They’ll grab onto anything from a bird, to a cat, to a rat, to a dog, and you! They like to live in leaf litter, tall grasses, and forest shrubs.
And as mentioned above, the deer tick is the main vector of Lyme disease across its range. This tick can also transmit babesiosis, a parasitical blood infection, to humans. Now, every deer tick bite isn’t going to cause Lyme. The tick that bites you would have had to have bitten a wild rodent or small mammal that has the disease, thankfully.
Lone Star Tick
Of all of the ticks, this may be the easiest to identify. The adult female lone star tick is round, reddish-brown in color, and can be easily identified by the single white dot on the center of it’s back. The females of this species are usually larger than the males.
Much like the deer tick, the lone star tick has a serial host preference. Cats, dogs, deer, birds, humans, and anything else with blood for them to suck. They can be found in wooded areas with high grass and leaf litter, and most places with a high population of white-tailed deer. It also lives throughout the entire southeastern U.S., so it can be a common sight among New Port Richey ticks.
The lone star tick is recognized by the CDC as the principal vector of ehrlichiosis. White-tailed deer are a primary host of the lone star tick and appear to serve as a natural reservoir for these ticks. The lone star tick is also a vector of tularemia and a bacterial infection whose symptoms appear very similar to those seen in Lyme disease, called Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI). Lone Star ticks have now also been linked to a new disease called Alpha-Gal, an allergy to red meats and pork.
American Dog Tick
The last New Port Richey tick we’ll be covering today is the American dog tick. American dog ticks are usually found on dogs, but they will also attach to other mammals and humans. Unlike the brown tick, it is typically an outdoor tick, not a household pest. This tick can carry RMSF.
Nymphs feed on rodents, but adults will attach to humans. Adults are abundant from March through September.
American dog ticks can also cause paralysis in dogs and children when the ticks attach to the base of the skull or the spinal column. Paralysis is caused by a toxic secretion. Recovery usually occurs within 24 hours of removing the tick.
New Port Richey Ticks: Keep Them Away!
For one, try not to actively attract wildlife to your yard. Squirrels, raccoons, field mice, rats, and deer all carry ticks. Minimize the feeding of wildlife in your yard by securing your garbage and bird feeders. But, if you manage to get a family of possums on your property, leave them be. They are tick’s kryptonite, and actively kill thousands each year.
Stay out of wooded areas, and reduce movement of your pets here. Ticks are abundant in these areas, especially moist and humid areas. Generally, ticks are not found in open sunny spaces such as the middle of a sunny lawn.
When you come in from working in your garden, strip off your clothes immediately. Now, mind you, make sure to do it in your laundry room and chuck them straight into the washer or garage. Don’t let them sit around in your bedroom. That way, even if there are ticks in them, they won’t have access to you or your pets. Then, do a tick check the second you strip. Not just on yourself either, any pets or gear that you brought in or out as well. And then use hot water to wash your clothes, as well as high heat in your dryer. Cold and mild temperatures don’t kill ticks.
Heck, if you have a hot tub a good fifteen-minute soak should also do the trick. This could also work with a hot bath, and is a good remedy for chiggers as well. And I shouldn’t have to say this, but remove any tick you find on your pets the second you see them.
Keep grass and weeds trimmed and under control. Always have a neat and tidy yard. Remove overgrown bushes as well as woodpiles and other debris. These areas attract mice and other rodents and hence are dream environments for ticks. Clean up leaf piles and clean dead branches from trees. Remove deadwood logs, litter, and debris quickly. Rodents are attracted to these areas, and so tick.
New Port Richey Ticks: Control
If you ever suspect a tick infestation, don’t think it’s something you can handle on your own. You need to contact a professional as soon as possible. Preferably one that uses natural pest control methods, as chemical pesticides have long been proven to be dangerous to your health and the environment.
Earth’s Best was founded in 1994 to provide effective and cutting edge and eco-friendly natural New Port Richey pest control. Earth’s Best can always provide you with the latest and most comprehensive range of services and information needed to protect your children, employees, pets, and the environment.
We look forward to offering our New Port Richey control services to our current and future clients. To schedule an appointment please call us at 1-800-634-1313.
