Ticks

Writen by Josh Riverside

Ticks constitute a menace that can cause debilitating diseases in humans and animals. Ticks are not insects, but arachnids. They belong to the same family as mites, spiders, and scorpions. Although they thrive in warm regions, they stay away from direct sunlight. They are parasitic and live on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Thousands of species of ticks can be found across the world, and in the Unites States alone there are nearly 200 species.

Eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults constitute the four-stage life cycle of ticks. They generally breed in tall grass, woods, bushes, and lawn grass. Adult female ticks lay eggs raging from 100 to 6,000 per batch, depending upon their species. Similarly, ticks may take less than a year or may take several years to complete their lifecycles.

Ticks carry microorganisms that cause serious diseases in humans and animals. In humans, these diseases are characterized by severe pain, respiratory problems, weakness, swelling, and even paralysis. In dogs and cats, tick-borne diseases cause loss of appetite, lethargy, pain, high fever, vomiting, and paralysis.

As prevention is always better than a cure, certain steps can be taken to prevent ticks from attaching themselves to people and pets. Lawn grass should be mowed regularly, tick-killing pesticides should be applied on pets, and pets' environments should be treated with these products. In addition, pets should be checked daily if they are in tick-infested areas.

Individuals should protect themselves in woods and other tick-prone areas by being fully covered from neck to toe. Clothes should be sprayed with repellent before wearing. However, tick-killing pesticides and repellents should be used only after reading instructions for use.

If ticks attach themselves to people or pets, they should be removed immediately with tweezers. The tick needs to be pulled out right from the point of attachment to prevent its head from remaining embedded in the skin of the host. Ticks must never be touched with hands. After the tick is removed, the bitten part and tweezers should be cleaned with antiseptic.

Awareness about the potential harm ticks can cause, tick removal method, and tick-bite-prevention techniques can help to combat the tick menace.

Ticks provides detailed information on Ticks, Tick Bites, Deer Ticks, Dog Ticks and more. Ticks is affiliated with Mosquito Magnets.