The following is a list of ticks found in the United States that are known to bite and transmit disease to humans: In some areas the nymphal tick infection rate is actually higher than the adult tick infection rate. While both hard and soft adult ticks are easiest to identify, it is important to note that nymphal ticks are equally capable of transmitting disease. The bite is typically painless and only lasts 15-30 minutes, making it harder to detect. Soft ticks’ life cycle lasts from months to years depending on the species. Nymphal soft ticks may go through as many as seven phases as nymphs, requiring a blood meal at each stage. Soft ticks (Argasidae), like hard ticks begin as an egg, hatch into a larva, feed and then molt into a nymph. The bite of a hard tick is generally painless, with a feeding process lasting several hours, to days, even weeks. The life cycle of hard ticks lasts one to two years depending on the species. Nymphal hard ticks then seek larger hosts, and after feeding drop off and molt into adults. After feeding it drops to the ground from the host and goes through a molting process, emerging as a nymph. Once the egg hatches a larva emerges that must then find and feed on a small mammal or bird (host). Hard ticks (Ixodidae) begin as an egg that is laid by an adult female tick. Hard ticks and soft ticks have different life cycles, growing larger and changing their appearance at each stage. Of the 700 species of hard ticks and 200 species of soft ticks found throughout the world, only a few are known to bite and transmit disease to humans. Īny further questions about tick borne illnesses may be directed to Atlantic County Division of Public Health at 645-7700 are two families of ticks found in the United States: Ixodidae (hard ticks) and Argasidae (soft ticks). For more information on Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever follow this link to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In Southern New Jersey, there are reported cases every year, and the main culprit is the dog tick. This is another tick-borne illness that is caused by a bacteria transmitted during the feeding process of infected ticks. Keep pets out of brushy, high grass areas.Try not to attract animals such as deer, mice, or rabbits. Minimize contact between your yard and wild animals.Mow grass around buildings, home lawns, and along paths- no higher than four inches.Edged, mulched, and weed-free flower beds are an example. Create tick "free" zones between the edge of lawns and brushy tick habitat.Remove yard waste, brush piles, leaf litter, and wood piles.To try and lower the human-to-tick contact, there are a few things we can do: Ticks are out all year, but they are less in number when it is cold out.Do periodic tick checks if outside for a long time. Repellent will help, but follow instructions of product exactly.Tuck pants into socks, and keep shirt tucked in also.Avoid tall grass, weeds, or shrubby areas.The adult male tick is smaller than the female, and is uniformly brown to black in color. The body of the female is dark brown to black, with a distinctive brick red abdomen. The adult deer tick is about the size of a sesame seed, smaller than other species of ticks. Cats, dogs, horses, and cows all have been known to get Lyme Disease also. The infected tick may go on to bite a human, and transmit the spirochete into the human. Most of their life is spent in underbrush or in the nests of rodents. Ticks feed on the blood of mammals, and usually acquire the spirochete infection during its immature stages of life (larva and nymph). In this area, the main culprit is the deer tick (Ixodes dammini). Not all ticks can the spirochete, so not all bites lead to Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease is caused by a spirochete bacterium that is transmitted generally through the bite of infected ticks. It not only affects hikers and campers, but can also affect people walking across suburban lawns or city lots. Lyme Disease has become a prevalent problem in the last few years. Deer Tick nymphs are responsible for 80% of human cases of Lyme Disease. Female American Dog Tick (right) and Deer Tick nymph (left) on palm of man's hand.
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