June Bugs ....... & TICKS !! Event Cache

DEER TICKS

Deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are also called black legged ticks. They are about the size of a freckle and are found in grassy areas and open fields. They serve as the vector to the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi which is responsible for Lyme disease, and the protozoan Babesia, which is responsible for Babesiosis. These ticks mainly feed on deer, horses, and dogs. Humans get affected only accidentally. Description of deer ticks The adult ticks are found mainly from September to November and between March and April. Female ticks have a brick red abdomen and a black head, and the male counterpart is black in color. They pass through three life stages over a period of 2 years: larva, nymph and adult stages. Disease caused deer ticks Deer ticks can transmit Lyme disease. The risk of being bit is high during summer when the nymphs are active and during the fall when the adults are very active. Adult ticks are more visible than the nymphs and it is very easy to remove them from surfaces. Symptoms of Lyme disease If an infected deer tick bites a person and transmits the organism causing Lyme disease, the following symptoms may occur:
Headache, Flu like symptoms, Skin rashes, Painful and swollen joints

Ticks should be removed as early as possible. Prompt removal may help in preventing Lyme disease infection. A deer tick infected with B. burgdorferi must be attached to a person for 2-3 days to pass on the infection. Ticks should be removed by holding its head near the skin with the help of tweezers. After the tick is removed, the skin should be disinfected with an antibiotic. Preventing tick bites Deer tick bites can be avoided by:

• Refraining from walking through fields with tall grass and shrubs
• Wearing light colored clothing and slacks tucked into socks
• Mowing grass regularly
• Applying tick repellents like DEET