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Community Question Highlight

While working in the woods yesterday, myself, my partner and my dog all seemed to have run through a tick nest. I immediately came home and bathed, then showered and my clothes were dumped into the washing machine. My partner did the same. We gave the dog a bath later that evening when we realized we were still finding ticks on us. Then I showered AGAIN. After all that I still found a tick crawling up my inner thigh. I'm sure I've missed some despite thorough checks and multiple showers, is there any other way to get these ticks off? I fear I will never find them in my hairline because I have thick, dark hair and these are tiny, tiny ticks. Should I go through a round of antibiotics for lyme, just in case? SB - Reston, VA

Answer:

It sounds like you encountered an egg-batch worth of larval stage Lone Star ticks, sometimes referred to as seed ticks. These larvae hatch from egg masses containing 3,000 or more eggs that all hatch at about the same time. Look closely to see if these tiny ticks have 6 legs or 8. All larval ticks hatch from eggs with just 6 legs, and after a blood meal and molting, the nymph stage emerges with 8 legs.

De-ticking clothes is best done by throwing everything into a hot dryer for 15 minutes, even before washing. The ticks will dessicate. Washing clothes first does not kill them but drying does. To get the larvae off of you and the dog before they bite, we recommend using sticky duct tape as soon as you notice the ticks latched on. If you don’t find them until they’re already biting, they may not come off as easily and you may need a fine-pointed tweezer to pluck them off. The good news is that larval Lone stars present little risk for pathogen transmission – they hatch from eggs as pathogen-free ticks. Lone Star ticks don’t usually transmit Lyme disease anyway, so a round of antibiotics without a disease diagnosis would seem inappropriate.

BTW, this time of year when both larval Lone Stars and larval deer ticks are out, we always have sticky duct tape ready for just such an encounter.

Insect Shield Q & A with the Experts

Dr. Mather answers several questions about tick bites in this Q & A from Insect Shield : Read Insect Shield Q & A with the Experts

TERC FAQ

Community Questions*

* - denotes question sent in from the community



1. I found a tick on myself/child/dog, but it was big so it must not be a deer tick. Am I right?

Answer: All ticks (including deer ticks, dog ticks, Lone star ticks, etc.) come in small, medium and large sizes.The smallest size, called larvae, are nearly microscopic. The middle stage, called nymphs, are medium sized although most people would call them tiny. Nymphs of all ticks are about the size of a pin head in their un-fed state. Then there are the large size or adult stage ticks. Even the adult stage of black-legged ticks (aka deer ticks) that transmit Lyme disease are relatively large. In the northeastern United States, the most common "large" tick likely to bite dogs, cats, horses, and humans in the Fall and Winter months is the black-legged tick, and it can transmit disease-causing agents including Lyme bacteria. Typically, about 50% of adult black-legged ticks are infected with Lyme bacteria.

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2. Do ticks die after the first frost?

Answer: No such luck! Some species, like American dog tick and Lone Star tick are just not active in fall and winter months. Others, like black-legged (deer) tick can remain active in their adult stage from fall to spring as long as the temperature is above freezing. Each life stage (larvae, nymph and adult) of any species of tick has a discrete time period when it is most likely to be looking for a host.

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3. Can I get Lyme disease from any tick bite?

Answer: First off, you can only get Lyme disease if a tick that is a carrier of the disease-causing microbe bites you. Second, black-legged (deer) ticks are the most common type of tick transmitting the Lyme disease bacterium from host to host. In most places in the Northeastern U.S., as many as 20% of black-legged tick nymphs and 50% of adult females are infected. If you are bitten by a tick, remove it right away, then identify it. You can have it tested for infection to better assess your risk. Black-legged ticks attached for less than 24 hrs are not likely to have transmitted any infection.

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4. How do ticks bite without you feeling it?

Answer: Because ticks stay attached to hosts, blood feeding for several days, they secrete novel pain killers, called kininases, in their saliva which help them go unnoticed. If you have been bitten previously, you may notice a small red bite mark, which can be itchy. If there is no tick at such a site, you may have already scratched it off without knowing it.

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5. The tick biting me was nearly completely embedded under my skin. Does my doctor need to remove it?

Answer: Ticks can only penetrate your skin with their hypostome. Their bodies are never embedded under the skin. Don't wait to see a doctor to remove a biting tick. It is easy to remove a tick safely by using a pointy tweezers. Don't worry if the head stays in, just disinfect the area with rubbing alcohol. You also might want to consider identifying and testing the tick for infection.

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6. Do ticks drop on you from trees?

Answer: No! Ticks don't fly, hop, run, or even move all that quickly. Depending on the life stage and species, they quest for hosts anywhere from ground level to about knee-high on vegetation, and then tend to crawl up to find a place to bite.

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7. If I find a tick biting me, should I cover it with Vaseline or touch it with a hot match to get it to detach?

Answer: No! These methods were once believed to be best years ago. Now we know that the safest way to remove a tick includes wiping it with rubbing alcohol to disinfect the affected area, and then remove the tick with a pointy tweezer.

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8. I saw deer in my yard; do ticks get their infections from deer?

Answer: Black-legged (deer) ticks do not get infected with Lyme disease, babesiosis, or granulocytic anaplasmosis by feeding on deer. Instead, white-footed mice, other small rodents, and some birds carry the infections and pass them to ticks that blood feed on them. Deer are important, however. They are the main reproductive host for the adult stage of black-legged ticks. Rule of thumb: no deer, likely no deer ticks. See deer, watch out, ticks may be present! Remember, deer typically are active at night, so even if you don't see them on your property, they may still be visiting. Look for signs, like browse on favorite plants, pellet piles or even hoof prints.

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9. I found a tick on my dog in November, December, January, February. But it was a "big" tick. Not to worry, right?

Answer: All ticks (incl. deer ticks, dog ticks, Lone star ticks, etc.) come in small, medium and large sizes. The smallest size, called larvae, are nearly microscopic. The middle stage, called nymphs, are medium sized although most people would call them tiny. Nymphs of all ticks are about the size of a pin head in their un-fed state. Then there are the large size or adult stage ticks. Even the adult stage of black-legged ticks (aka deer ticks) that transmit Lyme disease are relatively large. In the northeastern United States, the most common "large" tick likely to bite dogs, cats, horses, and humans in the Fall and Winter months is the black-legged tick, and it can transmit disease-causing agents including Lyme bacteria. Typically, about 50% of adult black-legged ticks are infected with Lyme bacteria.

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10. If I rarely go outside, and never go in the woods, how did the tick biting me find me?

Answer: First, you should know that black-legged ticks don't travel very far on their own, perhaps only one or 2 meters. However, they do get moved around by animals, and pets, particularly cats, are notorious for picking up a tick outside and then bringing it inside to humans. If the tick attaches to your cat or dog, it will not typically leave it, but if the animal comes inside or you pick it up, loose ticks crawling on the animals fur can easily transfer over to you. One helpful suggestion may be to make your cat an inside cat during the tick season.

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Community Answers

*1. I was bitten by a tick recently and now there is a big red spot. Should I be worried?

Answer: It depends on how recently. Within 3 days of being bitten by a tick, many people will develop a red spot that never expands to bigger than a dime. This is just an allergic reaction to the saliva that the tick is spitting into you. Watch the site, however. If the red spot grows in size over a period of a week or so, to bigger than two inches, then it is likely to be a sign that you are infected with the Lyme disease agent.

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*2. How strong a grip does a black-legged tick have on clothing or skin before becoming imbedded into skin? Also, how quickly can ticks transfer from grass or leaves to hosts?

Answer: Ticks have hook-like claws at the tips of each of its 8 legs to help it hold on to a host fur (or clothing/skin) prior to inserting its hypostome (mouth piece) into the skin. However, it is quite easy to remove ticks from skin or clothing prior to attachment - they often get brushed off of clothing while walking through vegetation. Black-legged ticks typically wait on low vegetation or edges of leaves on the forest floor for a host to come by. Vibration, carbon dioxide and heat all can stimulate the tick to assume a 'ready' position. It grabs on very quickly with its fore legs and will begin climbing upwards to find an attachment site.

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*3. We have a lot of American dog ticks in our area and we might have some blacklegged ticks, too. Since the nymphs of both species are about the same size, do dog tick nymphs bite people? (Jess, IL)

Answer: American dog tick nymphs can bite people, but in most settings they rarely if ever do. In a national survey of human-biting ticks submitted for identification and testing, only one nymphal dog tick was identified in more than 2,000 submissions. In addition to nymphal blacklegged ticks, nymphal Lone star ticks also are aggressive human biters. Of course, the adult stage of American dog ticks (both female and male) readily bite humans, often being found attached in the scalp.

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*4. A couple of weeks ago I went to a walk-in clinic with a reddish round bruise on my ankle. The Dr. treated me with antibiotics as if it were a tick bite. The red mark began to fade the day I started taking the meds. Did I catch the disease in time? Could symptoms return? What should I be looking for? I saw the Dr. within 1-2 days of the "bite". (T.H. Coventry, RI)

Answer: Tick bites can cause small papules up to the size of a nickel. These can be red, raised, and are sometimes itchy. This is in response to saliva that the tick injects while blood feeding, and can be felt as early as 18-24 hrs after the tick attaches. This reaction is not the so-called bulls-eye rash of Lyme disease. The Lyme rash grows larger than 5 cm (2 in) in diameter and does not usually appear before 5-7 days after the tick bite. The Lyme rash typically begins to fade a day or 2 after starting proper antibiotic treatment. If you took 3 weeks of an appropriate antibiotic, you should be fine, if this bruise even was a Lyme disease rash. To protect yourself in the future, consider using personal protection, like clothing only repellents, and if appropriate, treat your yard to reduce tick encounter risk.

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*5. A week ago, I spent a day botanizing on Prudence and Patience Islands in Narragansett Bay. I think that a small, speedy brown mite-like creature penetrated my socks (pants were tucked into socks and DEET applied to socks and bottom of pants) and made a bracelet of many bites around my ankles. The bites were round as a pencil eraser or a bit smaller, with blisters and they itched like crazy! No creatures remained attached and I was unable to capture one. Your thoughts, please. A.W., Portsmouth, RI

Answer: Since this incident occurred in late July on those islands, and you reportedly were wearing socks with your cuffs tucked in, it would seem that something very small had to have penetrated your socks. Depending on the tightness of the weave, you could have been attacked by numerous seed ticks, or larvae of the Lone Star tick, which is abundant on those islands. They are very tiny, and you may have mistaken these tiny attached ticks as a blister on your bite. The reaction you describe sounds typical of delayed type hypersensitivity, which suggests that you have been bitten before by such ticks. Although you were smart to tuck your cuffs into your socks, we recommend tucking pant cuffs into calf-high cotton tube socks treated with permethrin. Even if you are wearing shorts, permethrin-treated shoes and socks will still be protective. There are new treatment kits in the marketplace that allow you to impregnate permethrin into your clothing, which will provide good protection. DEET is just not a very good clothing repellent against ticks-for the best protection when venturing into tick habitat, use DEET repellents on your skin in addition to wearing permethrin-treated clothing.

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*6. Is it possible for a tick to become embedded in a person's scalp so deep that there is no lump there? J.P.

Answer: No! Ticks can only embed their hypostome or mouthpart into the skin. Their palps, which cover the hypostome to protect it when the tick is not feeding, fold back and prevent the tick from going any further into your skin. Refer to www.tickencounter.org and click on learn, then tick-biteology and look at slide 1 for a graphic on just how deep ticks can become embedded.

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*7. I recently have noticed a huge increase in ticks after not seeing many all summer. What's going on? BH, Exeter RI

Answer: Blacklegged ticks are seasonal pestsand you just have to know which seasons that they are typically active. The adult stages of this tick begin to become active as the season changes from summer to fall. In the northeastern U.S., these adult stage ticks start to become abundant early in October, and they will remain active through the winter as long as the temperatures are above freezing and the ground is not frozen or covered by snow. The nymphal stage of this tick is active during the late spring and summer. In RI, the summer of 2006 was the second "tickiest" summer in the past 14 years. There were plenty of these tiny pestsout there, but they are harder to see.

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*8. A guest at my home let his dog run in the woods. After the dog was back in our house for some time the owner found ten deer ticks on the dog and on himself. We vacuumed the house but I am concerned about more ticks being in the house, furniture etc. How long can a tick live in a home if it is in the furniture, rugs etc.? N.W.

Answer: Unlike some other tick species, deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are particularly susceptible to desiccation, or drying out. They can only survive short periods in places where the atmospheric moisture content (relative humidity) is less than say 90%. In one experiment, most of the nymphal deer ticks exposed to 75% humidity for 8 hours died, even after being returned to 96% humidity. In a typical house environment, unfed deer ticks are not likely to survive even 24 hours. Ticks on moist clothing in a hamper can survive 2-3 days. Ticks that have taken a blood meal may survive a bit longer but certainly not the 30+ days it takes to mature and bite again or lay eggs.

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*9. What role do mice play in the Lyme Disease cycle? L.P., Maryland

Answer: Black-legged (deer) ticks become infected with the bacterial agent causing Lyme disease [and other disease-causing agents] when they take their blood meal from small rodents, such as white-footed mice. Ticks use the blood meal to grow, and the infection just goes along for the ride-for example, if larval ticks feed on an infectious mouse, most become infected (80-90%), and once they transform (molt) into nymphal ticks, are able to transmit the infection at their next blood meal. This makes animals like mice the 'reservoir' of infection. Even though they are called "deer" ticks, the infections they transmit come from rodents. Prevention strategies that target ticks feeding on mice may help reduce risk of encountering infected ticks.

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Infection on Back

*10. The attached picture is of my son's back. Although his pediatrician has diagnosed Lyme disease, do the numerous bullseye-like blotches mean that he was bitten by several ticks? If so, could the Lyme disease effects be worsened by this? M.A. Rhode Island

Answer: Although presenting with numerous bullseye rashes (erythema migrans) like seen on your son is not the norm for Lyme disease, it is a good example of a systemic infection with the Lyme disease agent. The Lyme disease rash (EM) is an inflammatory manifestation of the bacteria spreading out from a central location under the skin usually centered on the tick-bite site. When multiple rashes occur, it is most likely that bacteria spread to multiple skin sites through the blood or lymphatic system, and not from multiple tick bites. Most likely, your son had just one initial tick bite. Systemic infection with the Lyme agent would likely occur a few weeks to even months after the initial tick bite, which may be why there is some cardiac involvement at this time. This may be a case of later-stage Lyme disease and symptoms could be worsened. You are wise to have pursued appropriate testing and treatment with his doctor.

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*11. Can I still get Lyme disease once there is frost? Patricia, Appleton, WI

Answer: Most people think that bloodsuckers like mosquitoes and ticks disappear along with the risk for disease transmission once there is a frost and the weather turns cooler. That's true for mosquitoes; they either die, or some species go into a feeding diapause. Some ticks also go into a feeding diapause in the autumn, but not deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis) - they are a different type of bug! The adult stage deer tick actually begins its feeding activity about the time of first frost (or early October throughout its range), and it will latch onto any larger host (cat to human) any day that the temperature is near or above freezing.

Typically, the Lyme disease spirochete infection rate in adult female deer ticks is 40-60% in the eastern and mid-western portion of this tick's range. However, these ticks need to be attached for at least 48 hrs before they begin transmitting any infection through their saliva. So, even in the fall it is important to check yourself and your pets daily for any attached ticks, and continue to take precautions like using clothing repellents on you and topical products on your pets.

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*12. This winter is starting out pretty harsh so far. Is there any way to predict how abundant ticks will be come summer? T. J., Madison, WI

Answer: Generally, the severity of the nymphal deer tick season depends less on winter weather conditions and more on weather conditions next summer as well as conditions the previous summer, when larvae were active. In late summer 2007, disease-carrying rodents were exceptionally abundant as were larval deer ticks, meaning that many larvae likely took their blood meal from animals carrying infection. This should result in a higher than normal proportion of infected ticks come May 2008. If high humidity conditions prevail through next summer, we predict that summer 2008 could be quite ticky, with disease incidence much higher than normal. Begin making plans now to take every appropriate action to reduce tick encounter risk, and visit www.tickencounter.org often during the spring to learn the best steps available to stay safe.

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*13. I see on your website that you talk about perimeter sprays and "tick tubes" for controlling deer ticks. Does one method work better than another? Also, where can you buy "tick tubes"? C.A., Easthampton, NY

Answer: Actually, the host-targeted Damminix Tick Tubes and the habitat-targeted perimeter sprays are complimentary deer tick control strategies. When used together in a program, we believe they provide outstanding protection from tick encounter, especially for backyards and well-defined recreational areas in parks, camps, schoolyards, etc. Tick Tubes work specifically to kill larval and nymphal ticks bloodfeeding on mice, which are the main source of infection to ticks. Mice take the permethrin-treated nesting material from the Tick Tubes back to their nest, and are generally tick-free thereafter. Killing larvae before they can become infected serves to reduce both the number of nymphal ticks in a treated area and, more importantly, the proportion of ticks that carry infection. Tick Tubes should be applied in July/August (when larvae are actively feeding) and again in April/May, in areas where mice will find them.

Perimeter spray treatments target deer tick habitat, where deer tick encounter risk is highest. High pressure sprays turn leaf litter over and kill nymphal deer ticks that previously fed on mice, as well as a wide array of other animals that may not take the treated nesting material found in Tick Tubes. These sprays are most effective if applied when nymphs are active. We recommend 2 treatments, mid-/late May and mid-June, applied by a trained professional pest control company with high pressure sprayers.

Both Tick Tubes and perimeter spray treatments are available from companies advertising tick control services, or go to www.TickTubes.com for more information about purchasing Tick Tubes.

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*14. What are the best preventive measures against ticks when preparing for a weekend hike through the woods? K.N. Medfield MA

Answer: We used to tell people to use DEET repellents, tuck your pants into your socks, walk in the center of the trail, and to do a thorough tick check when you get home. Although those strategies can help reduce the risk of tick bites and disease, people didn't like the feel of repellents on skin, or the look of long pants tucked into socks. Moreover, the poppy-seed sized nymphal deer ticks were hard to find.

We now encourage people to plan a little bit ahead--treat shoes, socks, shorts/pants, and shirt with PERMETHRIN tick repellent the day before going on the hike. Let it dry onto the fabric (takes about an hour or two), then go out and have fun! It is still good to practice walking down the center of the trail, and try to remember to do a tick check when you get home, but if you are wearing clothes treated with PERMETHRIN tick repellent, there is a [much reduced likelihood] that a tick will be able to bite - even if you are wearing shorts! More good news - your treated clothes are ready to protect you the next time you venture into tick country, whether it is on a hike or just playing/working around the yard (note: at-home treated clothes can be washed up to 6 times, while Insect Shield clothes are still effective after 70 washes).

You can sign up to our mailing list at the top of the page to have TERC remind you when it is time to renew your PERMETHRIN clothing treatment.

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*15. I am a student at Rowan University in southern New Jersey, on the periphery of the Pine Barrens. I am aware of the tick situation in this area, but have a specific question regarding their habitat. I am planning an overnight hike on the Batona Trail in the Pine Barrens this weekend (mid-March), and I saw the temperature is going to reach the high 50's. Despite the fact that ticks are not traditionally active until the spring/summer months, your documentary film mentions that they are active in temperatures above freezing. Do you think ticks would be extremely active on a weekend such as the one upcoming, based on temperature and time of year? I know about permethrin, wearing white socks with pants tucked in...but can you offer up any other tips? - Tom S., NJ

Answer: Spring actually arrives this weekend, but deer ticks don’t wait for spring to become active. The larger adult stage deer ticks that were left over from the fall (didn’t find a host) emerge from under the snow as soon as the ground thaws. They can be active anytime the temperature is above or even close to freezing as long as the ground is not frozen or covered with snow. It is common at this time of year for adult deer ticks to be quite active—they climb up shrubby vegetation about knee-high and hope to latch on if a host comes by. In NJ, by late March/early April, you may also begin finding Lone Star tick adults and adult stage dog ticks. So, our advice Tom is to take just a few extra minutes the day before you go to treat your clothes and shoes with permethrin tick repellent, or purchase and plan to wear clothes that come with permethrin tick repellent built in. When you are done for the day, be sure to check your body carefully, looking especially for adult stage ticks—and for tips on where to check most thoroughly, try our Tick-Bite Locator . Finally, deer ticks are usually found on trail edges and in the forest, so trying to always stay in the middle of the trail can help reduce tick encounter risk. Have fun but be tick aware!

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*16. I just pulled a corn kernel looking tick off my 3 month old yorkshire terrier puppy, should I take her to the vet? I don't know how long the tick has latched onto her, but it might have been a couple of hours ago.

Answer: During the Fall and early Spring in the northeast, mid-Atlantic and upper mid-west, ticks that look like a "corn kernel" are most likely to be partially engorged female deer ticks -- most likely attached for about 3 days to look like a corn kernel. Their body generally looks pale at this stage and they have not started to swell up big.

If the dog has the Lyme disease vaccine, you are probably fine. However, 3 days is long enough for a deer tick to begin transmitting Lyme bacteria and the agent of anaplasmosis. If not vaccinated, you could give your vet a call and see if they will take any prophylactic measures.

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*17. While working in the woods yesterday, myself, my partner and my dog all seemed to have run through a tick nest. I immediately came home and bathed, then showered and my clothes were dumped into the washing machine. My partner did the same. We gave the dog a bath later that evening when we realized we were still finding ticks on us. Then I showered AGAIN. After all that I still found a tick crawling up my inner thigh. I'm sure I've missed some despite thorough checks and multiple showers, is there any other way to get these ticks off? I fear I will never find them in my hairline because I have thick, dark hair and these are tiny, tiny ticks. Should I go through a round of antibiotics for lyme, just in case? SB - Reston, VA

Answer: It sounds like you encountered an egg-batch worth of larval stage Lone Star ticks, sometimes referred to as seed ticks. These larvae hatch from egg masses containing 3,000 or more eggs that all hatch at about the same time. Look closely to see if these tiny ticks have 6 legs or 8. All larval ticks hatch from eggs with just 6 legs, and after a blood meal and molting, the nymph stage emerges with 8 legs.

De-ticking clothes is best done by throwing everything into a hot dryer for 15 minutes, even before washing. The ticks will dessicate. Washing clothes first does not kill them but drying does. To get the larvae off of you and the dog before they bite, we recommend using sticky duct tape as soon as you notice the ticks latched on. If you don’t find them until they’re already biting, they may not come off as easily and you may need a fine-pointed tweezer to pluck them off. The good news is that larval Lone stars present little risk for pathogen transmission – they hatch from eggs as pathogen-free ticks. Lone Star ticks don’t usually transmit Lyme disease anyway, so a round of antibiotics without a disease diagnosis would seem inappropriate.

BTW, this time of year when both larval Lone Stars and larval deer ticks are out, we always have sticky duct tape ready for just such an encounter.

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