The deer tick, also known as the bear tick or blacklegged tick, are small, eight-legged insects that grow up to half an inch in length. They live for about two years, spending one year in the egg and larvae stage and one year transforming from nymph into an adult.
Deer ticks have flat, oval bodies that expand as they fill up on blood. The males are generally darker in color, with a whitish strip around the outside of their abdomen. The females have a two-tone, lighter brown torso and may grow more rust-colored as they ingest blood.
A deer tick bite may appear red on lighter skin and brown or purple on darker skin. If the tick carries Lyme disease, the bite may have a distinctive bulls-eye appearance.
If bitten, remove the tick immediately with clean, fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick close to the skin’s surface and pull upwards with even pressure. Be sure not to twist or jerk the tick, as this could cause parts of the mouth to remain in the skin.
Quickly clean your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Instead of crushing the tick with your fingers, dispose of it in alcohol, a sealed bag or a container, wrapped up in tape, or by flushing down the toilet.
After removing and disposing of the tick and cleaning your hands, clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Monitor the bite for 30 days and if you experience a rash, fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, or joint and swelling pain, call your healthcare provider.
Deer ticks are the primary vector of Lyme disease in North America. They can also transmit babesiosis, anaplasmosis, Borrelia miyamotoi, ehrlichiosis, Powassan virus, and more.
Deer ticks are present throughout the contiguous United States and Alaska but mainly inhabit the areas between the east coast and Texas. They are also commonly found around the Great Lakes.
To keep deer ticks away, maintain your yard by keeping the grass short and spraying a pesticide made with bifenthrin. Do not fear; they should not be able to survive indoors due to humidity levels.
Contact Arrow Exterminators for a professional pest control plan if your deer tick issue continues.
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