Ticks are infamous, blood-sucking insects that are responsible for spreading diseases such as Lyme disease. Due to their reputation, it's no surprise that there are a lot of myths floating around about ticks. Here are four myths that you should not believe about these pests.
Ticks only live in the forest
One of the most dangerous myths about ticks is that they are only found in the forest, and that if you're not a hiker or camper, you have nothing to worry about. This is not the case. Ticks can be found in all kinds of places, including in your own backyard.
Ticks can be found in the woods and in areas where woods meet lawns, but they can be found in a wide variety of other places. Ticks like to live in tall grass, underneath leaves, or underneath ground cover. While they like to hide in tall grass so that they can latch on to animals or humans that pass by, they can also be found on grass that has been mowed, including sports fields. They can also be found hiding around wood piles; they are attracted to wood piles because mice and other small mammals that they can feed on live there.
You will notice if a tick bites you
When ticks bite, they stay attached to their host for as long as several days, so it seems like common sense that you would notice that this is happening. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. Most of the time, tick bites are actually painless due to an anesthetic agent that they have in their saliva. This anesthetic allows them to bite their host and remain undetected.
Since you probably won't feel the tick bite, you need to carefully inspect your skin after you spend time outdoors. You will be able to see the ticks if you look closely.
All ticks carry Lyme disease
It's a common misconception that all ticks carry Lyme disease and that if you get bitten by a tick, you will definitely get infected. Not all ticks are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, so even if you do manage to get bitten, it's not a guarantee that you will get sick. A Minnesota study examined over 5,000 ticks and found that only 22 percent were infected with the bacteria. This means that if you get bitten there's a good chance the tick that bit you is not infected with Lyme disease. However, you still do need to be careful and try your best to avoid tick bites, just in case.
When you're outdoors, make sure to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from crawling up your pants and biting your legs.
Ticks are hard to control
Some people believe that ticks are hard to control, but it's really not that hard to reduce their numbers. To keep ticks away, make landscaping changes to make your backyard less appealing to them. Keep your grass short, trim bushes, and rake your leaves to get rid of places where ticks can hide. If your backyard is near the woods, make a barrier of wood chips or gravel around the perimeter of your backyard; the barrier needs to be at least 3 feet wide to restrict tick migration.
Pesticides are also helpful. Make sure to use pesticides that are designed to kill ticks; these products are known as acaracides. These products only need to be applied once, generally in the spring, to control ticks throughout the year. Follow the directions on the packaging carefully for best results.
If you're concerned about ticks in your backyard, consult with a pest control company like Cavanaugh's Professional Termite & Pest Services.
Share1 October 2015
After marrying my sweet husband ten years ago, I moved into a fixer-upper. I immediately started making a list of remodeling projects I wold need to complete before the house would be comfortable to live in. For instance, I had to rip out the old linoleum flooring in the kitchen, mud room, and bathrooms. I also had to buy a complete set of new furniture. Only a few days after moving into this house, I also discovered my need to contact a reputable pest control specialist. The house contained huge, disgusting roaches. After a local pest control technician visiting my house, my home was free of potentially health damaging roaches. On this blog, you will discover the latest trends in the pest control industry for successfully removing roaches from a home.
