Black Legged Tick

On the tips of grass blades and shrubs, hiding in plain sight, are the black legged ticks. You may have heard them called “deer” ticks. This is because their preferred host is the white-tailed deer. Ticks cannot fly or jump. Instead, they simply lie in wait for a host to brush up against them, and they climb on. 

In fact, they will perform their “questing” ritual while holding on to the blade of grass with their back legs. Then, with outstretched arms, the tick waits to grab on for the ride. Then, dinner is served. And that is unfortunate because they are full of threats to animals and humans alike.

If you think you may have ticks in your home or yard, there are several things to do. But first, contact your local pest control company, like Drive-Bye Exterminators.

Black Legged (Deer) Tick Appearance

Most people have some idea of what a tick looks like. And if you are an outdoorsy type, you may have seen one up close. But knowing the difference between the ticks is a bit tricky. So here is a general overview of what the deer tick looks like.

Size: Female 1/8 inch, Male 1/16th of an inch

Bodies: Both have soft, flat oval bodies with eight legs.

Coloration: Females are orangish-brown and reddish with black legs. Males are reddish-brown all over.

These ticks live about two years and go through four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. In order to progress through the four stages, the tick must have blood for each meal. Their food source is from mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. They go from host to host with each stage of life.

Have you seen a tick that looks just like this? Then, hurry and contact Drive-Bye Exterminators before you have a full-blown infestation.

The Dangers Associated with Ticks

Perhaps the most important thing to know about the deer or black legged tick is they spread disease. There are four primary diseases they spread among others.

1. Lyme Disease
2. Anaplasmosis
3. Human Babesiosis
4. Encephalitis

As soon as you recognize ticks on yourself, in your yard, or on your pet, contact the staff at Drive-Bye Exterminators. Be sure the entire tick is off, and call your doctor if the tick was on you for any time.

How Tick Diseases Spread

The transmission of tick-borne illnesses is easy since they bite and drink blood. They are actually quite good at it. First, the tick will locate an excellent spot to feed on the host. Then it will grab on and insert the feeding tube. If unnoticed, the tick will then proceed to drink blood from the host for several days. This is where the disease transmits to the tick.

Now, when the tick moves into the next stage of life, it will find a new host and transmit the disease to that one as well. So the quicker humans get the tick off, the less chance they have of becoming sick from the tick. That is why it is so important to check for ticks after each hike.

Bite Symptoms

Should you get bitten by a tick, here are the immediate symptoms you may see:

• Itching
• Fever
• Tick paralysis

Typically the symptoms of a tick-borne disease will occur within a few days to a few weeks after a tick bite. However, make sure you see your doctor immediately after receiving a tick bite, even if you don’t have symptoms.

Tick Prevention

These hitchhikers can be relentless, so preventing them from ever getting on you, your pet, or entering the home is the best idea. Here is what we suggest at Drive-Bye Exterminators.

1. Remove ticks as soon as noticed on a person or pet.
2. Apply insect and tick repellant to uncovered skin and clothing.
3. When in grassy areas, especially tall grass, wetland, and shrubbery, wear clothing that covers the arms, legs, and feet (tuck pants inside socks or boots). Wear a hat.
4. Wear light-colored clothing as this will make it easier to see ticks.
5. If you are going to be in the garden or touching plants, wear garden gloves.
6. Immediately after being outdoors, check clothing and remove it before entering the home. Place clothing in a plastic bag to go immediately into the wash.
7. Shower immediately after spending time outdoors and check your skin and scalp.
8. Be sure you are using a veterinary-approved tick control method for your pet.
9. Call your veterinarian to check your pet that a tick has been entirely removed.

For more information on the deer or black legged tick, check this out at PestWorld.org.

Black Legged Tick Elimination

When trekking through the forest, you cannot eliminate the ticks from the forest you are in. Therefore, the only way to stop them is to take preventative measures. That said, if your pet brings them in and you get an infestation in the home, your house may need treatment by a professional exterminator.

Drive-Bye Exterminators offers home and commercial pest control services in Pinellas County, Florida, and the surrounding areas. Family-owned and operated for over 25 years, Drive-Bye Exterminators has state-certified inspectors and exterminators. And we provide flea and tick extermination services to commercial and residential clients. Drive-Bye Exterminators offers each client the same level of attention, professionalism, and excellence.

Request a Pest Control or Termite Inspection today with the Professionals of Drive-Bye Exterminators. Contact Us Today