Ticks are small arachnids, related to spiders and mites, that feed on the blood of mammals, birds and reptiles, including people and pets. Although tiny, they can transmit serious diseases. Knowing where they live, how they feed, how to remove them and how to prevent bites is important for families, hikers, farmers and pet owners.
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This article is for general information and does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
The life cycle of a tick
Most ticks that affect people go through four stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult. After hatching, larvae need a blood meal to develop into nymphs, and nymphs need another meal to become adults. Adult females feed again before laying thousands of eggs. Depending on the species and climate, the full cycle can take one to three years.
Nymphs are especially important because they are very small, sometimes the size of a poppy seed, and easy to miss, yet they can transmit diseases.
Where ticks live
Ticks usually live in grassy, brushy and wooded areas, and also in yards with tall grass, leaf litter or wood piles. They don't jump or fly. Instead, they wait on plants with their front legs extended, a behavior called "questing," and climb onto people or animals that brush past. Once on a host, they often crawl to warm, hidden areas, such as behind the knees, armpits, scalp, groin and waistline.
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How ticks feed
A tick inserts its mouthparts into the skin and can remain attached for several days. Its saliva contains substances that reduce pain and prevent blood from clotting, which is why many people don't notice the bite. During feeding, disease-causing organisms can pass from the tick to the host.
Diseases spread by ticks
In the United States, ticks can transmit several diseases, including:
- Lyme disease: caused by bacteria and spread mainly by the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. It is the most common tick-borne disease in the country, especially in the Northeast, upper Midwest and parts of the mid-Atlantic. Early symptoms can include fever, fatigue and a characteristic expanding rash, sometimes shaped like a bull's-eye.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever: a serious bacterial disease that can be fatal if not treated early.
- Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis: bacterial infections that can cause fever, headache, chills and muscle aches.
- Babesiosis: a parasite that infects red blood cells.
- Powassan virus disease: rare but potentially serious.
- Alpha-gal syndrome: an allergy to red meat and other mammal products linked to bites from the lone star tick.
In other countries, ticks transmit different diseases. In Brazil, for example, the star tick (Amblyomma) is associated with Brazilian spotted fever, a serious disease that requires prompt medical care.
How to remove a tick safely
The CDC recommends:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk, which can cause mouthparts to break off.
- After removal, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Dispose of a live tick by placing it in alcohol, sealing it in a bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape or flushing it down the toilet.
Avoid folk remedies such as petroleum jelly, nail polish, matches or heat, which don't help remove ticks safely and may delay removal. Removing ticks quickly matters, because the risk of transmission of some diseases increases with the time the tick stays attached.
When to see a doctor
Seek medical care if you develop a rash, fever, chills, fatigue, headache or muscle and joint pain in the weeks after a tick bite or after spending time in tick habitats. Tell the doctor about the bite, when and where it happened. Many tick-borne diseases can be treated effectively with antibiotics when diagnosed early.
How to prevent tick bites
Before going outdoors
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent, such as products with DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus, following the label.
- Treat clothing and gear with permethrin, or buy pre-treated clothing.
- Wear light-colored clothing, which makes ticks easier to see.
- Wear long sleeves and pants, and tuck pants into socks in high-risk areas.
While outdoors
- Walk in the center of trails.
- Avoid brushing against tall grass and bushes.
After coming indoors
- Check your body, children and pets carefully, including hidden areas.
- Shower soon after coming indoors, ideally within two hours.
- Put clothes in a dryer on high heat to kill ticks.
Making your yard less tick-friendly
- Keep grass short.
- Remove leaf litter and brush.
- Place a barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas.
- Stack wood neatly in a dry place.
- Discourage deer and rodents, which carry ticks.
Protecting pets
Dogs and cats can also get tick-borne diseases, and they can bring ticks into the home. Ask your veterinarian about tick prevention products, such as collars, topical treatments and oral medications, and check your pets after walks, especially around ears, neck, toes and under the legs.
Related reading:
- Mice and Rats: Facts, History and How to Keep Them Out of Your Home
- Benefits of Having a Dog: Health, Happiness and Responsibilities
Frequently asked questions
How long does a tick need to be attached to transmit Lyme disease?
In general, the risk increases the longer a tick stays attached, which is why checking for and removing ticks quickly is important.
Do all ticks carry diseases?
No, but it's not possible to know just by looking. Prevention is always recommended.
Can I use petroleum jelly to remove a tick?
No. The CDC recommends removing ticks with fine-tipped tweezers.
Should I save the tick?
Some people keep the tick in a sealed bag in case symptoms appear and the doctor wants to know the type.
What does a Lyme disease rash look like?
It often expands over several days and may look like a bull's-eye, but it can vary in appearance.
What is alpha-gal syndrome?
An allergy to red meat and other mammal products associated with lone star tick bites.
Conclusion
Ticks are small but can have a big impact on health. Using repellents, wearing protective clothing, checking your body and pets after outdoor activities, removing ticks correctly and watching for symptoms are simple steps that protect your family and animals.