All the latest news stories from Tick Encounter Resource Center surrounding ticks and tick-borne diseases.

All’s Quiet ... except for the larvae!!

Date: 9.14.2009

Larvae infected from feeding on mouse

September is typically one of the quietest months (in warm weather) for human tick encounters. That is, except for the nearly microscopic larval stages of deer ticks and Lone Star ticks (sometimes called seed ticks). Billions of these tiny bloodsuckers are actively host seeking and feeding now. While larvae hatch from eggs pathogen-free, they can become infected with disease causing agents (like the ones causing Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis) if they take their blood meal from a pathogen-infected animal. Once infected, they can carry the pathogens through the winter (and their transformation into nymphs) until they emerge as infected nymphs next spring. Don’t be caught off guard -- You can plan your Spring 2010 tick control actions now!

6 Useful Facts To Know About Larval Ticks:

1. They have 6 legs and are really tiny.
2. They are unlikely to infect you with anything.
3. Usually you get many more than one latching on (they are highly clustered in nature around an egg mass).
4. Try removing with sticky duct tape.
5. If clothing is infested, throw into hot dryer for 5-10 minutes before laundering.
6. You will have nymphs in the same location next spring - so be prepared!!

Be sure to check out the new tick identification chart for seasonal tick activity in your region.

Go to Tick Identification


Current Tick Activity

Current Tick Activity

Keep up-to-date with what ticks are out!

Current Tick Activity

Updated Tick Identification Chart!

New Tick Identification chart

We've added several new features to our tick id chart: higher resolution images, seasonal chart data, known diseases transmitted, and more species to our tick identification chart.

Tick Identification

Purchase Hidden in the Leaves on DVD

Purchase Hidden in the Leaves on DVD%

If you would like to purchase "Hidden in the Leaves" on DVD, contact us. The DVD costs $15 per copy, plus shipping. Proceeds help support tick-bite prevention programs.

Hidden in the Leaves

Tick abundance in Rhode Island running 54% above last year

54%

Not quite half way through the worst of the 2009 tick season, and deer tick abundance in Rhode Island is running 54 percent higher this year compared to the same time last year, according to preliminary results from URI's statewide Tick Encounter Risk Survey.

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WJAR Channel 10: Pre-treated clothes can repel ticks

54%

WJAR Channel 10 Health Check Reporter Barbara Morse Silva interviews Dr. Mather about the benefits of pre-treated clothes this month and throughout the summer.

Direct Link to read the article
Direct Link to watch the video interview

The Big Tick Gala 2009 award winners and recap!

Big Tick Gala 2009

The Tick Encounter Resource Center and NBC10 WJAR were pleased to present two awards at the Big Tick Gala 2009 to Peter Lord and Nate Miller. Read more about why these two individuals were selected to receive the Think TICK Take Action award this year. Also, check out photos and summaries from the evenings events!

Read More

Make A Gift Today

Are you concerned about the serious health threat caused by ticks?

Would you like to make appropriate tick-borne diseases prevention programming more widely available? If you answered yes to these questions, please consider supporting the Tick Encounter Resource Center at the University of Rhode Island. Proceeds help support tick-bite prevention programs.