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Description: Adult deer ticks are tiny--approximately the size of a sesame seed. Males are black; females have a brick-red abdomen and a black shield near the head. Females swell to 1/4 mm when fully engorged after feeding. Adults are found primarily from September through November, and again in March and April. Adults feed mainly on deer, but will also attack cattle, horses, dogs, etc. Humans are accidental hosts.
Life Cycle: After hatching from an egg in late spring, deer ticks go through three life stages: larva, nymph, and adult. Each stage requires a different host animal. During each stage a tick feeds only once. Deer ticks need 2 years to complete their life cycle. The larvae are tan and very small (about the size of a pin head). They feed in late summer (near ground level) on mice, shrews, chipmunks, voles, and other small animals. Newly hatched deer ticks do not initially carry Lyme disease; they pick it up from an infected animal. The white-footed mouse is the primary carrier/source of the Lyme disease bacterium. A tick that picks up the bacterium from feeding will pass it to the next life stage and is able to infect future host animals. Nymphs are the size of a poppy seed. They are beige, sometimes appearing transparent with a dark head. Nymphs feed from May through August on larger animals including birds, raccoons, opossum, squirrels, cats, dogs and human beings. Disease Cycle: The risk of being bitten by a deer tick infected with Lyme disease is greatest in the summer months of June and July when the nymph stage is active. This is the time of year when people (and notably children) are most active outdoors. Make a habit of thoroughly checking yourself and others for the tiny nymph following outdoor activities. The risk is also high in the fall, when adults are active. However, the adults are easier to see and remove than the nymphs. If you live in or have visited an area with a high incidence of ticks, it is important to know the symptoms of Lyme disease: * Headache Lyme disease symptoms mimic many other diseases. About 80 percent of Lyme disease victims develop a rash within two days to four weeks. If untreated, more severe symptoms may develop--sometimes months to years later. If you suspect that you have contracted Lyme disease, consult a physician immediately. Tick Removal: If you find a tick on your body, remove it AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; ticks must be attached for 24 hours for the bacteria to be transmitted. To remove feeding ticks, use tweezers ONLY; do NOT use nail polish, Vaseline, matches or other methods that may traumatize the tick and cause it to regurgitate its gut contents. Grasp the tick with tweezers around its head, close to the skin and pull it up slowly and firmly. Disinfect the bite afterwards with antiseptic. Tick Prevention: Avoid ticks outdoors by avoiding walking through tall grass and shrubby areas. Wear slacks tucked into socks and light colored clothing to make it easier to detect ticks. Stay close to the center of hiking trails to avoid brushing against vegetation. Check companions and children frequently for ticks. Apply repellents such as DEET to shoes, socks and pants. Keep grass mowed around buildings and in home lawns and along paths. Remove brush adjacent to trails and public areas which might serve as animal resting sites.
Adapted
from Dewey M. Caron, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension,
1999.
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