“Ticks” the Season
It’s that time of year when New Hampshirians start their garden
clean-up, try to get that last mountain hike in, go hunting or camp for
the last time before winter sets in. This also is the time of year people
find themselves sharing their outside space with a small, blood sucking
pest: the tick.
Ticks are a group in the order Acari and there are over 800 species of ticks worldwide. Although the numbers of tick species is in the hundreds, there are relatively few ticks that interact with mankind and domestic animals. The tick’s main purpose in life is to propagate their species. There are two distinct varieties of ticks: those that belong to the family Ixodidae (hard ticks) and those in the family Argasidae (soft ticks).
New Hampshire is home to several species (about 15 spp of Ixodids),, but hard ticks are the most important because they present a danger to humans and/or animals. They can spread diseases to people, pets and other animals by transmitting germs through their saliva as they feed. Ticks feed by inserting their mouth parts into the skin of a host and drawing blood. These germs include the bacteria that cause such serious diseases as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and human ehrlichiosis.
Of the hard ticks, the most important in New Hampshire according to Dr. Alan Eaton, a UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist in Entomology, is the Blacklegged Tick, Ixodes scapularis. This tick is the species that spreads Lyme Disease, the most common vector-borne (transmitted by insects or ticks) disease in the United States. This time of year (mid-October and November) the adult blacklegged tick—which used to be called the “deer tick”—is the tick people are most likely to encounter. Blacklegged tick females are 3-4mm long and males are between 2-2.5mm long. Adult ticks vary in color between the genders. The females are two-toned: dark chestnut brown on head, legs and scutum, and orange on the rear-end half of the body. The males are very brown, almost black. Scientists tested adult Black Legged Tick adults in New Hampshire for the presence of the Lyme disease causing bacteria and found an unexpectedly high percentage.
Scientists have been checking blacklegged ticks in New Hampshire for the presence of the Lyme disease causing bacteria and have found an unexpectedly high percentage in adult ticks.
Although ticks vary in appearance, all of the adults are small and round with eight legs. Ticks have four stages in their life: egg, larva, nymph and adult. The egg stage is the only inactive stage of the tick’s life. The larva, nymph and adult stages require a blood meal at least once during each active stage. The first immature stage, called "seed ticks", have only six legs. These larvae must find and attach themselves to a host in order to get a blood meal. Larvae of some ticks which feed only on one host remain on the host to molt. Because of the difficulty of finding a suitable host, larvae can withstand long periods without feeding. Ticks don't fly, jump, or blow around with the wind. They are small, simple in their approach to locating a host, and very patient.
Hard ticks encounter hosts, including humans, by climbing on vegetation ( tall grass or weeds) and wait passively for hours or days for something to come along. This behavior is called "questing." When they detect vibrations and chemical cues such as host odors or exhaled carbon dioxide, ticks will fall from their perch or stretch out (holding on to their perch with only 2 or 4 of their rear legs) and hope to snag or attach onto a passing host (e.g., a mammal with a fur coat or pants and socks worn by humans.) . Then they crawl around in search of an appropriate location on which to attach and feed. The attachment bite is usually painless and goes unnoticed. A blood meal takes several days to complete. Although the incidence of Lyme disease is low, its effects can be serious.
So what can you do to keep yourself and your pets safe? Prevention is
the key. You can reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease by taking
some simple precautions. Dr. Eaton suggests the following:
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Tucking pant legs into socks before a trip into woods or fields | |
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Using insect repellant on socks and pant legs (most effective repellants contain a material called n,n-dimethyl-m-toluamide or “DEET”. | |
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Wear light-colored clothing (to help locate ticks easily) | |
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Stay close to the center of trails (avoid brushing against vegetation) | |
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Thin out low shrub vegetation in woods | |
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Keep grass mowed | |
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Remove brush piles (it serves as animal nesting sites) | |
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Checking thoroughly for ticks after a day outdoors (common sites of attachment include the underarms, the groin, behind the knee, and the nape of the neck) |
Since tick bites are painless, ticks are often discovered after they have begun to feed. Dr. Eaton explains that, “an adult blacklegged tick that’s just begun to feed will appear about the size of a sesame seed, but it can reach the size of a small grape as it becomes engorged with your blood and should be removed as soon as possible.” To remove a tick, you should grasp the tick with tweezers only (bent “needle nose” tweezers work the best), around its head and close to the skin. Pull the tick up and out slowly and firmly. Disinfect the bite afterward with antiseptic.
If possible save the tick for identification. For proper identification,
place the tick in a stoppered vial and send it to:
There is a $5.00 fee. If you have further questions about ticks in New Hampshire refer to Dr. Eaton’s fact sheet “Biology and Control of Ticks in New Hampshire" or for specific concerns or questions about Lyme disease, call the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, @ 603-271-4496 or 800-852-3345 x4496.UNH Cooperative Extension, Arthropod Identification lab
117 Spaulding Hall
38 College Road
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824-3544
Call the UNH Cooperative Extension's Family, Home & Garden Education
Center 's Info-Line toll-free at 1-877-3984769 for "Practical Solutions
to Everyday Questions." Trained volunteers are available to answer
your questions Monday through Friday from 9 am to 2 pm .