The lone star tick (Fig. 1) is an important nuisance pest across Kentucky and can be a vector of some diseases. Its most common hosts are wild mammals and ground-nesting birds but these aggressive ticks readily feed on humans and companion animals.
Contents
Do ticks in Kentucky have Lyme disease?
The most common tick borne diseases in Kentucky are Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and ehrlichiosis. Lyme Disease is very uncommon in Kentucky although the specific tick that transmits the disease is occasionally seen by University of Kentucky entomologists. It is best to take simple precautions and avoid tick bites.
What ticks are common in Kentucky?
The lone star tick and the American dog tick are the most common ticks in Kentucky. And though bites from these ticks typically just cause local irritation and itching, a small percentage of them carry disease.
Why are ticks so bad in KY?
The Lone Star tick is also a vector for alpha-gal syndrome, known as the red-meat allergy, which is becoming increasingly more common. In Kentucky, the blacklegged tick, which is commonly called the deer tick, carries the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
When is tick season in Kentucky?
Ticks are a problem year-round, but especially during the summer, they can be a problem for people and pets. Ticks in Kentucky pop up from May through July. We see a lot of overlap between the major species like a Black Deer tick, the Lonestar tick, and the American dog tick, said Dr.
What does a Kentucky tick look like?
Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) Identification: Reddish brown body color with a triangular scutum on adult females. Adult females also have one white dot on their dorsal side. Adult males have smaller white markings along the posterior end of the dorsal side at the end of their scutum. Mouthparts are long.
How soon after a tick bite do you get symptoms?
Symptoms usually start 1 to 4 weeks after the tick bite, with up to 90% of people developing an expanding, circular red skin rash. Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Symptoms usually start about 2 to 14 days after the tick bite.
What if I get bit by a tick?
Pull steadily without twisting until you can ease the tick head straight out of the skin. It may take several seconds to a few minutes for the tick to unhook its mouth. Wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water. Disinfect the site with rubbing alcohol, then apply a triple antibiotic ointment or antiseptic.
Is Lyme Disease bad in Kentucky?
Lyme Disease While the deer tick known to transmit Lyme Disease has been identified in very small numbers in some parts of the state, Kentucky has a very low incidence of Lyme Disease.
What happens if a lone star tick bites you?
The lone star tick causes your body to swell, break out in hives, and can even cause life-threatening anaphylaxis if alpha-gals enter your bloodstream after eating red meat.
What is the best tick repellent?
The following top-rated options all fit the bill:
- 25% DEET. OFF! …
- 20% Picaridin. Sawyer Continuous Spray Insect Repellent. …
- 30% DEET. Repel Insect Repellent Wipes. …
- 20% picaridin. Ben’s Tick and Insect Repellent. …
- 20% picaridin. …
- 20% IR3535. …
- 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus. …
- 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Can tiny ticks bite?
Nymph ticks are actually the most likely to transmit Lyme disease or another tick-borne infection to humans than ticks at other stages, according to the CDC . Less than two millimeters in size, nymphs can bite people and remain virtually undetected.
How do I rid my yard of ticks?
Create a Tick-safe Zone to Reduce Blacklegged Ticks in the Yard
- Remove leaf litter.
- Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns.
- Place a 3-ft wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to restrict tick migration into recreational areas.
- Mow the lawn frequently.
How big is a deer tick nymph?
It’s peak time for near-microscopic deer tick nymphs. About the size of a poppy seed (1 to 1.5mm), their miniscule size makes them extremely difficult to detect, even after they attach to a host (like you, your dog, or your children). The nymph form is the second stage of a deer tick’s three-stage, two-year lifecycle.
How do you get a tick off?
How to remove a tick
- Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. …
- After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Never crush a tick with your fingers.
How do you identify a tick?
The most easily identifiable characteristic is an obvious white dot on the female’s dorsal shield, which gives the tick species its name. The brown dog tick is small, with an elongated body, reddish-brown color, and hexagonal mouthparts.
What kind of tick has a spot on its back?
The lone star tick gets its name from the single silvery-white spot located on the female’s back. These ticks attack humans more frequently than any other tick species in the eastern and southeastern states. Lone star tick bites will occasionally result in a circular rash, and they can transmit diseases.
When is tick season?
May through August is considered peak tick season. With the arrival of the tick nymphs in May and the warm summer weather, there are more ticks out looking for a blood meal during this time.
What are the odds of getting Lyme disease from a tick?
As it turns out, the chance of catching Lyme disease from an individual tick ranges from zero to roughly 50 percent, according to Mather. The exact probability depends on three factors: the tick species, where it came from and how long the tick was feeding.
Do you automatically get Lyme disease from a tick bite?
Only a minority of tick bites leads to Lyme disease. The longer the tick remains attached to your skin, the greater your risk of getting the disease. Lyme infection is unlikely if the tick is attached for less than 36 to 48 hours.
What does the deer tick look like?
Both male and female deer ticks have flat, oval bodies, and are not hard-shelled. Female deer ticks are orangish brown in color except for their legs, mouthparts, and scutum (shield). Unengorged, their abdomen is a dark reddish-brown color but becomes darker after feeding on a host.
Why do I keep finding ticks on me?
During a tick infestation in your home, you might find a large number of ticks on yourself or on your pet. Since ticks require blood from people or animals to survive, they will attach themselves to you, your family members, or your pet. Ticks move quickly across the body, but they prefer areas that are warm and moist.
Do ticks lay eggs on humans?
Q. Where do ticks lay eggs? Not on you! Once the adult female is full of blood, she’ll drop off to lay her eggs somewhere sheltered.
Should I go to the ER for a tick bite?
It is important to seek medical attention if you notice any of these symptoms following a tick bite: A red bull’s-eye in the area surrounding the bite. Erythema migrans rashes, even away from the tick bite site, in the period of over several weeks following a known tick bite or a possible tick exposure.
Is Lyme disease curable?
Although most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with a 2- to 4-week course of oral antibiotics, patients can sometimes have symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking that last for more than 6 months after they finish treatment. This condition is called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).
How do you get ehrlichiosis?
These bacteria are spread to people primarily through the bite of infected ticks including the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). People with ehrlichiosis will often have fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and sometimes upset stomach.
