All ticks crawl up after latching on. If you're lucky, they might crawl up the outside of your clothing. Tiny nymph-stage deer ticks loaded with pathogens most commonly latch on to your shoes -- and they crawl up -- UNDER your clothes. Tucking pants into socks is a classic, "unfashionable", strategy for keeping ticks from crawling up under your clothes. An easy and reliable way to prevent tick bites every day is simply to wear tick repellent clothing. It makes tick bite protection as easy as getting dressed in the morning!
In the Northeastern United States, Deer Tick Larvae hatch from eggs in late June. Each female deer tick produces about 1500 larvae.
In August, they begin to attach and feed on anything they can find. Rodents such as White-footed mice and chipmunks are the prime targets for these tiny blood suckers. Rodents carry pathogens that cause Lyme Disease, Babesiosis, and Human Anaplasmosis. Deer ticks become infected as Larvae when they ingest these pathogens from rodents along with their blood meal.
Babesia are malaria-like parasites transmitted by blood feeding ticks. Infection with Babesia microti causes humans to become anemic, experience spiking fever and chills, and exhaustion. In some cases, the infection can be fatal. This 3 minute video demonstrates the life cycle of Babesia microti, starting in the blood of white-footed mice. Follow the parasite as it is ingested by deer ticks, and finally is transmitted to humans through tick saliva.
Tick Factoids : Larvae & Nymphs from TickEncounter Resource Center is part one of a three part series full of well-known to lesser known facts about ticks. How many do you think you'll know?
This video show's how well Permethrin treated clothing repels and kills ticks. Watch Video
This video demonstrates how to apply Permethrin to your clothing using the soaking method. Watch Video
This video demonstrates how to apply Permethrin to your clothing with the spray method. Watch Video
Ticks in your yard may cause infected blood and fluid from the tick to splatter onto the skin (and possibly into the hole the tick has made). If the tick does rip, be sure to use antiseptic wipes around the tick-bite site. Watch Video
So, you've found a tick biting and you want to get it off. To have the best chance of preventing disease transmission, it is important to remove the tick RIGHT AWAY ..... and, to do it SAFELY. It is best to use a pointy tweezer so you can grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. The animation will show what is likely to happen if you use a pointy tick removal tweezer and proper technique. Remember, it is always best to disinfect the area before starting and again, after removing the tick. Watch Video