Tick & Disease Information

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All information and images gathered and adapted from Tick Management Handbook and Pest Management: Tick Control by Kirby Stafford

Ticks are arthropods and are more closely related to spiders, mites, and scorpions than insects. Although there are about 80 tick species in the US, approximately only 12 pose health concerns, 3 of which are present in the northeast. These are:

Blacklegged (deer) Tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Female

Male

Transmits Lyme Disease, human babesiosis,
and human granulocytic

American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

Female

Male

Transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)

Female

Male

Transmits HME and STAR

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the most common tick-related disease.

In 2002, 23,763 cases were reported. 95% of these cases came from 12 states, most commonly Connecticut and Rhode Island
Lyme disease is often under-reported. Reported cases typically comprise only 10-20% of all actual cases
In 2014, 33,461 cases were reported

Symptoms

Erthema migrans (EM), a red rash, typically appears 2-32 days after a tick has detached – it is not painful but may feel warm to the touch
- The rash will expand over time to about 6 inches
- It may be uniformly red, have a clear center, or, occasionally, a bull’s eye appearance
- It will disappear without treatment
Other symptoms include: fever, headache, chills, fatigue, and joint and muscle pain

Steps to Prevent Lyme Disease

Check for ticks daily, especially in spring and early summer. The tick must be attached for 24 hours for Lyme disease to be transmitted
Remove ticks with tweezers by grasping the mouth parts and pulling in a slow, steady manner

Tick 3-Host Life Cycle

Steps to Reducing Tick Bites

Spray your yard using a 100% organic tick control product to reduce the overall tick population
Revise your landscape practices
- Move all recreational areas (fireplaces, playscapes, etc.) at least 10 feet away from the woods
- Put a 3 ft. wood-chip skirt between the woods and yard
- Clean all leaves and brush
- Reduce food sources for wildlife that ticks feed on (deer, birds, mice, etc.)
Use deer-resistant plantings to prevent deer from entering the yard
Keep stone walls and wood piles neat to deter small mammals from living in them

For more information, please visit the Tick Management Handbook

All information and images gathered and adapted from Tick Management Handbook and Pest Management: Tick Control by Kirby Stafford