Have you ever wondered what a tick really looks like? Perhaps you already know that they are a parasite, meaning they need a host to survive. In all actuality, they will take you or another human or pet as a host and feed on your blood. But don’t let that fact cause you to envision a huge vampire attacking you. The truth is they are various sizes depending on the level of maturity.

Ticks vary in color and size due to the different life cycles but are still easy to recognize. The adult has 8 legs and is wingless. Normally they are brown to reddish brown in color but the color can change to more of a greenish blue immediately after a blood meal. An adult tick is flat and oval shaped and about the size of an apple seed. Again, the size and shape changes after feeding on its host and becomes more like a balloon from gorging on blood.

Ticks in nymph stage are only about one-half the size of an adult but this only means they are harder to see. They will still attach to a host just as quickly. Newly hatched larvae are about the size of a grain of sand and almost impossible to see them on your body. However, do not let their size fool you. A tick in any life stage can still infect you with various diseases including the dreaded Lyme disease.

A tick bite should never be ignored. While most bites do not result in the transmission of diseases, the ones that do pose serious problems. A few of the diseases that can be transmitted from a tick bite includes Lyme disease, Colorado tick fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.

It is not possible to completely eradicate ticks from your property. This is because they usually arrive unannounced, riding on the body of wild animals or dogs that may be passing by. Yet there are some things you can do to reduce the probability of high infestations. Ticks like areas of high humidity and normally will migrate to areas of dense vegetation and tall grass. They are also found along the edge of wooded areas. It is recommended that you trim back the branches in wooded areas and keep weeds cut down and grass mowed short.

Treat your pets with tick preventatives obtained from your veterinarian. In addition to taking all precautionary measures, contact Active Pest Control for information on how we can limit the tick population on your property. With your preventive techniques and our expert treatment, you can still enjoy your outdoor activities!