Simply enter your zip code in the search bar below for a list of local and licensed professionals. If you discover ticks in your home or are dealing with an infestation on your property, contact a licensed pest control professional who can provide expert insights and solutions. Our tick DNA tests are over 99.9 accurate. The Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania is able to detect the most common tick-borne diseases in any of these species. It prefers wooded, grassy, or brushy areas. It is also found along the West Coast, mostly keeping to California. Ticks can pose serious health threats to both people and pets, so it’s important that any infestations are promptly and properly addressed. This tick makes its home between the East Coast and the Rocky Mountains. Read on to learn more about each of these common species: Blacklegged Ticks The deer tick, also known as the black-legged tick, is the tick species that spreads the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease in Pennsylvania. Being aware of the threats posed by each species, especially the types of ticks present in your state, is essential to health and safety. Although these species may differ in appearance or where they are found in the country, they also transmit different diseases. While there are more than 90 different tick species found in the United States, there are five in particular that people need to look out for. Check out the dedicated pages to learn more about tick population by state: Tick Population by Stateīased on factors such as weather patterns, geography and biological tick behavior, each state is home to different tick species and population sizes, and therefore faces different threats. In order to stay protected, it’s important to know about the types of ticks that can be found in your state, as well as the threats they pose and what to do if bitten. As vector pests, they can spread a number of different bacterial diseases to people, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. There are approximately 850 different tick species around the world, over 90 of which can be found throughout the United States. The family of ticks that makes up the Soft Bodied ticks (Argasidae), contains nearly 200 species worldwide, however in the United States, there are really only a handful of somewhat common species: the Pigeon tick (Argas reflexus) pictured right, the Swallow tick (Argas cooleyi), and Relapsing Fever tick (Omithodoros turicata). So far this year, they’ve only been identified in Southeastern Pennsylvania.Ticks are one of the more well-known and widespread pests in the country, capable of biting and feeding on humans, pets and wildlife. The Gulf Coast tick carries the bacteria that causes Tidewater spotted fever symptoms include fever, muscle aches and a dry, dark scab over the tick bite.Īs their names imply, both species are usually found further south, though their range has grown. This can trigger Alpha-gal syndrome, which causes people to have an allergic reaction to mammal meat, such as beef or pork, along with milk and other dairy products. are spreading, and with them new illnesses.Ī bite from the lone star tick can transfer a sugar molecule to the human host. “Like this past winter, where we have some really warm winter days, where it gets about 40 degrees, those ticks can be active during times of year when we usually wouldn't expect there to be ticks out and about,” she said.Īnother impact of climate change: tick species from other parts of the U.S. Warmer weather extends the time a tick has to search for a host. Research suggests that climate change is increasing the risk of Lyme disease in Pennsylvania, according to Emily Struckhoff, the vector-borne disease program specialist at Penn State Extension. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that after a tick attaches to a host, it usually takes 36 to 48 before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Lyme disease can cause a raft of medical issues, including facial palsy, severe neck and headaches, and arthritis. It’s also a good idea to shower after being outdoors. “It’s very important to be vigilant in taking precautions when you're out hiking, enjoying the outdoors, doing things like, wearing permethrin products,” he said. When checking for ticks, a person should look over their body thoroughly, including their waist, groin and neck, behind the ear – even under the armpit. After feeding on its host, a nymph will swell to five or six times its original size.īefore their meal, nymphal ticks are the size of a poppy seed, making them hard to detect, explains Nick Baldauf, the vector control specialist for the Allegheny County Health Department. Pennsylvania has one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the U.S., and the Allegheny County Health Department reports that roughly 30% of the blacklegged ticks that are active in the spring and early summer are carriers of this vector-borne illness.Īt this time of year, blacklegged ticks have molted from the larval to nymph stages, and must consume a so-called “blood meal” to survive into adulthood.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |