The very topic of ticks can cause your body to itch and your paranoia to increase, which then makes you grab the closest friend or family member to inspect your body from head to toe, at least in the areas you can’t see, closely like that of a monkey. People are wary of ticks and tick infestations for good reason, not only because of their creepy attachment to their host where they feed like vampires off the blood of their victims but because of the potential diseases, they can transmit. Ticks are fairly known across the globe, varying in size, color and species. There are a few more ticks common to the Texas area. The Brown Dog Tick and Lone Star Tick are more frequently dealt with, but Texas has been known to come across the Dog Tick and Deer Tick as well.
A-Tex Pest Management would like to express some facts concerning brown dog ticks and lone star ticks that are plaguing the good folks of Texas.
Brown Dog Ticks: Adults are tiny, females are generally larger than males, and increase slightly in size after feeding. They range between 1/8-1/4 inches in length. They are brown with a slightly reddish tone. Brown dog ticks are more unique than other tick species, as they are the only ones that can complete their life cycles indoors. They start as eggs, developing into larvae, then they grow into nymphs and finally mature into adulthood. Brown dog ticks will generally attach to a host and feed until their next stage in their growing cycle. They will then select a different host as they grow, although, if necessary they can and will live their entire life slurping blood off of one host. As the name implies, they prefer to feast upon canine species, both domestic and wild. Most ticks require laying their eggs in plants or soil, but the brown dog tick will lay their eggs on any available surface. It is generally your pets that bring the tick infestations into your home. These infestations often go unnoticed until their population makes them more obvious. After their bloodlust craze, females ready to reproduce will drop off their hosts and lay anywhere between 1,000 and 3,000 eggs. Brown dog ticks are not known for transmitting Lyme disease but can be responsible for spreading Rocky Mountain spotted fever or canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis to their canine hosts.
Lone Star Ticks: Lone star ticks are more easily identified. The females are adorned with a white dot on the center of their back. Males, not nearly as obvious, have white lines or streaks on the top ends of their bodies. Lone star ticks are easily confused with black-legged ticks that can carry Lyme disease, but the lone star tick does not. The white-tail deer are usually their meal of choice and usually keep to woodland areas. Similar to the brown dog tick, lone star ticks will fall off a host at the completion of each life cycle, or when the female is in need of laying her eggs. Females lay their eggs in more humid settings, under leaf litter, for example, is favorable. She will lay up to 5,000 eggs. After the eggs hatch, larvae will skitter in search of their first host, then become nymphs and finally adults. Besides white-tail deer, lone star ticks will leech on to humans, dogs, cows, and horses, birds prone to the ground, squirrels, opossums, raccoons, and coyotes. Though, as previously mentioned, lone star ticks do not transmit Lyme disease, but their bite often results in a rash similar to a rash symptom of Lyme disease. Diseases they do transmit are ehrlichiosis and tularemia, along with the Heartland virus.
Tick Pest Inspections, Prevention, Control & Removal in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas
If you suspect ticks, it is very beneficial to call A-Tex Pest Management to exterminate the bloodsuckers. If you or your pets seem to be displaying any signs of illness or discomfort after being bit, seek medical treatments. Our professionals at A-Tex Pest Management can inspect for tick infestations, and properly exterminate them. Call us today!