Ticks exist in many distinct forms that differ in appearance and live in different places and settings, and can transmit various diseases to both humans and animals. These unsightly little creatures can multiply and infest homes if left untreated.
Hard Ticks (Ixodidae)
Hard ticks develop from an egg laid by an adult female tick. Once the egg hatches, a larva must hunt and feed on a small mammal or bird (host). After feeding, it falls to the earth from the host and undergoes molting before emerging as a nymph. Nymphal hard ticks then seek larger hosts, drop off, and molt into adults after feeding. Hard ticks have a one-year life cycle, depending on the species. A hard tick bite is normally painless, with a feeding process that might take several hours, days, or even weeks.
Soft Ticks (Argasidae)
Soft ticks, like hard ticks, hatch as eggs, grow into larvae, eat, and then molt into nymphs. Nymphal soft ticks can go through up to seven stages as nymphs, requiring a blood meal. The life cycle of soft ticks can range from months to years, depending on the species. Because the bite is usually painless and only lasts 15-30 minutes, it is difficult to detect. While hard and soft adult ticks are the easiest to spot, it is crucial to know that nymphal ticks can also transmit disease. In some places, the rate of nymphal tick infection is significantly larger than that of adult tick infection.
American Dog Tick (Dermacentor Variabilis)
The body of the American dog tick is dark brown. Females have an off-white shield, whereas adult males have a mottled appearance. Adult females pose the greatest danger of getting bitten during the spring and summer months.
Blacklegged “Deer” Tick (Ixodes Scapularis)
Blacklegged ticks are sometimes known as deer ticks. The name “deer tick” is misleading because this species also feeds readily on other types of animals, especially birds. When fully engorged with a blood meal, deer ticks are very small, usually less than 1/8 inch long. They appear reddish-brown with a distinctive white spot behind the head (or capitulum).
Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus Sanguineus)
Ticks of the brown dog variety are reddish-brown and have a narrow form compared to other ticks. They can be found everywhere but are usually located in sunny areas such as hiking trails, beaches, lawns, parks, and under bushes and trees.
Conclusion
There are thousands of ticks in the world, and they vary greatly in size, type, and where they are found. It’s recommended that you contact a professional if you suspect that you have an issue with ticks on your property. A professional can help you identify the type of tick and then provide a removal solution.
Contact Vinx Pest Control if you are concerned about ticks on your property and have questions regarding tick removal. Our team will be able to assess your home, identify the type of tick, and offer a tick eradication strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hard ticks go from egg to larva to nymph to adult, feeding on a host at each stage and dropping off to molt in between, with a life cycle around a year depending on species. Soft ticks can pass through as many as seven nymphal stages, each one requiring a blood meal, and their life cycle can stretch from months to years.
A hard tick bite is normally painless and feeding can take several hours, days, or even weeks. Soft ticks feed for only about 15 to 30 minutes, and because that bite is painless too it is easy to miss entirely. That is why routine tick checks beat waiting to feel something.
Yes. Adult hard and soft ticks are the easiest to spot, but nymphs transmit disease as well. In some places the infection rate among nymphal ticks is significantly higher than among adults, and their smaller size makes them much harder to find on skin or fur.
American dog ticks have a dark brown body, with an off-white shield on females and a mottled look on males; adult females bite most in spring and summer. Blacklegged deer ticks are reddish-brown, usually under 1/8 inch, with a distinctive white spot behind the head. Brown dog ticks are reddish-brown and noticeably narrower than other species.
As soon as you suspect a tick problem on the property. Ticks can multiply and infest a home if they are left untreated, so an outdoor problem turns into an indoor one. A pro can identify which species you have and match a removal plan to it, which matters because habits differ between species.