About Ticks
Ticks are a parasitic group of arthropods more closely related to spiders, mites
and scorpions than to insects. There are two major groups of ticks: hard ticks
(Ixodidae) and soft ticks (Argasidae). Hard ticks get their name from a hard plate
of exoskeleton (scutum) present dorsally behind the head. In males, the scutum
completely covers the back, while in females the scutum only partly covers the
back.The hard ticks are more common and more important as a pest to humans and
animals. They feed on blood from their animal hosts, and several species are notorious
for also transmitting disease-causing pathogens.
Tick Descriptions
Common tick species found in West Virginia include the American dog tick (
Dermacentor variabilis), blacklegged or deer tick (
Ixodes scapularis) and lone star tick (
Amblyomma americanum).
The American dog tick is the most commonly encountered tick in West Virginia. Although
it can be found feeding on dogs, it will readily feed on numerous other animal
hosts. They are brown to reddish-brown with cream or grayish colored markings on
the scutum.
The blacklegged, or deer, tick is commonly encountered in mixed forests and along
woodland edges. The larval and nymphal stages can be found feeding on small rodents
(the preferred host is the white-footed mouse), while deer are the primary hosts
during the adult stage. These ticks are chocolate brown in color, with adult females
having an orange to red back surrounding the scutum.
The lone star tick is commonly encountered in dense woodlands and around animal nesting
areas. They are reddish-brown to tan in color, with adult females having a single
white spot on the scutum.
Tick Life Cycle and Habits
The life cycle of ticks consists of four stages; the egg, six-legged larva (often
called seed ticks), eight-legged nymph and adult (also with eight legs). Ticks
must feed at each stage to complete their one- to three-year life cycle.
Ticks do not jump or drop from trees onto their hosts. They wait in a position
known as questing, which is resting upon vegetation with their front legs outstretched
waiting to climb upon a host.
In order for a tick to take a blood meal without being detected, it injects small
amounts of saliva with anesthetic properties at the site of attachment. If the
tick is infected with a pathogen, it is transmitted to the host through the saliva.
Tick Management
Personal Protection from Ticks
The most effective method for protecting oneself is to regularly check for ticks.
The probability of a tick transmitting a disease-causing pathogen increases the
longer an infected tick is attached.
When entering a habitat with a high risk of tick exposure, hike along trails, staying
in the center to avoid brushing against weeds and tall grass. Wear light-colored
clothing to make ticks easier to spot. Using a DEET-based repellent on skin and
permethrin-treated clothing can also provide good protection.
If an attached tick is found, remove it using thin-tipped tweezers or forceps.
Grasp the tick as close to skin as possible and pull the tick upward with steady
even pressure to remove the tick with its mouthparts intact to reduce the risk
of infection.
Landscape Management Control for Ticks
Desiccation (drying out) is a major cause of natural tick mortality. Taking steps
to make vegetation and leaf litter dry out faster can make the area less favorable
for ticks.
There is a positive correlation between the abundance and distribution of the blacklegged
tick and the size of whitetailed deer populations. Deer management options, such
as fencing, repellents, guard animals and deer-resistant landscape plantings, can
also be used to help reduce tick populations.
Chemical Control of Ticks
Insecticides, or acaracides when used for ticks, can help reduce tick populations
around the home, especially when combined with landscape management practices that
decrease tick habitat. Fast-acting, residual formulations of synthetic pyrethroids
(e.g., bifenthrin, permethrin) can be applied along yard perimeters, and other
areas where ticks may inhabit. Spray treatments are most effective when applied
using a high-pressure sprayer in the spring when nymphs become active. An additional
application in the fall can be used to target adult ticks.
Another option is to target acaracides on small mammals that may be living in the
area. In many instances, mice are the reservoir hosts responsible for producing
disease-carrying ticks.