Ticks are small parasitic organisms that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. They are known to spread a number of serious infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and others. Therefore, it’s important to be able to identify ticks and take appropriate measures to remove them safely if they are found on you, your family, or your pets. This article will provide an overview of ticks, the diseases they can transmit, where they are commonly found, and how to identify if something you find on your skin or your pet’s fur is indeed a tick.
What are ticks?
Ticks are small arachnids that are closely related to spiders, mites, and scorpions. There are over 800 species of ticks throughout the world. They are external parasites, meaning they attach to the skin of their host and feed on their blood.
Ticks go through four life stages:
| Tick Life Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Egg | Ticks hatch from eggs laid in clusters by an adult female tick. A single female can lay between 300-3,000 eggs. |
| Larva | After hatching from the egg, ticks enter the larval stage. Larvae have six legs and are about the size of a poppy seed. They feed on blood from small mammals and birds for several days before dropping off to molt into the next stage. |
| Nymph | Nymphs are larger than larvae but smaller than adults. Like larvae, they have six legs. Nymphs feed on blood from small to medium-sized animals for 4-7 days before dropping off to molt again. |
| Adult | The adult stage is the reproductive stage for ticks. Adult ticks have eight legs. Adult females feed on blood from large mammals like deer, dogs, humans, and other animals for 7-10 days before dropping off. Males typically feed very little. |
At each stage, ticks must feed on blood from a host to progress to the next stage. Between feedings ticks go through a molting process to reach the next life stage. Most tick species can survive over a year without feeding.
Where are ticks found?
Ticks thrive in areas with dense vegetation or leaf litter where they can quest for hosts. This includes woodlands, forests, grassy, brushy or wooded areas along trails, and areas with tall grass or shrubs. Ticks cannot fly or jump. They wait on the tips of grass, shrubs, or other vegetation with their front legs outstretched waiting to climb on to a passing host.
Some common places ticks are found include:
– Parks, gardens, and backyards with trees, shrubs, tall grass, or leaf litter
– Along the edges of wooded areas, trails, and paths
– On low growing vegetation and brush
– On logs, tree stumps, and on fallen branches or leaves
– In and around stone walls or wood piles
– On animals like deer, dogs, rodents, and birds
Ticks are most active in spring, summer, and early fall when the weather is above 45°F. However, some ticks in warmer climates are active year-round. After feeding, ticks seek shelter in lower vegetation near the ground or in leaf litter while waiting for warmer weather or their next host.
Diseases transmitted by ticks
Ticks can transmit a number of different pathogens that cause disease in humans and animals. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases in the U.S. include:
| Disease | Primary Tick Vector | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Lyme Disease | Blacklegged tick | Fever, headache, fatigue, rash, facial paralysis |
| Anaplasmosis | Blacklegged tick | Fever, chills, headache, muscle aches |
| Babesiosis | Blacklegged tick | Fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, nausea |
| Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever | American dog tick, brown dog tick | Fever, headache, rash, vomiting, muscle pain |
| Ehrlichiosis | Lone star tick | Fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches |
| Tularemia | American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick | Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, skin ulcers |
Other less common tick-borne diseases include Colorado tick fever, Powassan disease, Tick-borne relapsing fever, Heartland virus, 364D rickettsiosis, and Bourbon virus. Recently discovered tick-borne diseases include Heartland virus and Bourbon virus.
Many tick-borne diseases have overlapping symptoms including fever, chills, body aches, and fatigue. A rash may develop in some cases. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 3-30 days after a tick bite. If you develop any symptoms of illness after removing an attached tick, see a healthcare provider.
Identifying ticks
Being able to identify ticks is important so you know what kind of diseases you may have been exposed to if bitten. The most common ticks in the U.S. that bite humans include:
| Tick Species | Geographic Region | Size | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacklegged tick | Northeastern and upper Midwestern states | Nymphs about the size of a poppy seed. Adults about the size of a sesame seed. | Nymphs are brown. Adults are reddish-brown with black legs, head, and markings on their abdomens. |
| American dog tick | Eastern half of the U.S. and along the Pacific Coast | About the size of a pumpkin seed | Brown with whitish markings on their abdomens |
| Rocky Mountain wood tick | Northwestern U.S. and southwestern Canada | About the size of a sesame seed | Brown with gray or white markings on their abdomens |
| Lone star tick | Southeastern and eastern U.S. | Females about the size of a sesame seed | Reddish-brown with a single white dot on the back of females |
| Gulf Coast tick | Southeastern U.S. | About the size of a sesame seed | Chestnut brown with whitish markings on their abdomens |
| Brown dog tick | Worldwide, throughout the U.S. | About the size of an apple seed | Mahogany brown color |
Ticks in their nymph stage are very small (about the size of a poppy seed or sesame seed), so they can be difficult to see on skin or fur. Use a magnifying glass if you find a small bump or spot that could be a tick. Compare against pictures to identify the species.
Deer ticks and related species that can transmit Lyme disease are expanding their geographic ranges due to factors like climate change, habitat modification, and host migration. So it’s important to take preventative tick precautions whenever outdoors.
How to tell if something is a tick
Follow these steps to determine if something you find on your skin or your pet’s fur is a tick:
1. Look at the size and shape – Ticks attach tightly to the skin and become engorged as they feed. Their bodies will appear rounded or oval shaped if they have fed recently. Most tick species at any stage are about the size of a sesame seed or smaller when unfed.
2. Check the number of legs – Ticks have eight legs as adults and six legs as nymphs and larvae. Other insects like fleas only have six legs even as adults. If you see eight legs, that’s a sign it’s a tick.
3. Inspect the color – Use tick identification guides to look for markings, color patterns, or colors that match common tick species in your area. Nymphs are often black or brown. Adults may have additional white, gray, or reddish markings.
4. Look for mouthparts – Ticks have visible mouthparts they insert into the skin to extract blood. The mouthparts will be visible on the front of the body.
5. Try to pull it off – Gently grasp the tick with tweezers close to skin and pull straight up with steady pressure. If it resists being pulled off, that’s a sign it’s latched on and not another insect or debris. Do not squeeze or crush the tick’s body.
6. See if the legs move – Observe whether the insect moves its legs or not. Ticks hold on tightly when feeding and tend to not let go. If you see the legs grasping and clinging, it’s likely a tick.
7. Have someone else inspect – If you cannot identify if it is a tick, have someone else look at the insect. They may be able to compare it to tick guides and confirm for you.
8. When in doubt, get it checked out – If you cannot determine if the insect is a tick, but suspect it may be, save the tick in a sealed plastic bag and contact your doctor or local health department to have it formally identified.
Being able to recognize ticks allows you to remove them promptly and take steps to prevent possible tick-borne diseases. Quickly identifying a tick bite gives you the chance to watch for symptoms and seek treatment. If you ever have doubts about an insect bite or attachment, get medical advice to be safe.
Conclusion
Ticks can transmit many serious infectious diseases, so it’s important to inspect yourself, family members, and pets thoroughly after spending time outdoors. Their small size makes ticks easy to miss. Knowing what to look for and identifying characteristics like their oval shape, eight legs, visible mouthparts, and coloring can help determine that something found on the skin is indeed a tick. If a tick is found attached, always remove it promptly and safely to lower disease risk. Speak with a healthcare provider if any signs or symptoms of illness develop after a tick bite. Being able to accurately identify ticks allows you to take quick action to protect your health.
