Ticks are parasites which belong to the phylum, Arthropoda and make up the largest
collection of  creatures in  the animal kingdom.  They are  also the largest and most
common members of the order Acarina.

Although there are well over 800 species of ticks, for the purpose of this web page I
will only be discussing the type which have  the greatest  effect on animals, reptiles,
birds and on some amphibians.

Ticks are divided into two groups:  The soft bodied ticks (Argasidae) and the hard
bodied species ( Ixodidae).  Soft bodied ticks have numerous nymphal stages....up to
eight...and feed periodically on warm blooded animals.  Their bodies have a sac-like
appearance with the exo-skeleton having  a tough, leathery  texture with a distinctly
roughened surface.

Hard bodied ticks are smaller with a more distinct shape and are the ticks which cause
the most problems for humans and their pets.  They affix themselves to their host with
a sort of tough glue-like substance and procede to insert their sucking mouthparts into
the body of the host ( blood meal source).  The female can consume many times her
body weight and can become quite bloated.   The male does not become as bloated
when consuming a blood meal.

Ticks go through four stages in their life cycle:  egg,  larva,  nymph, and  adult.  Mating
usually occurs while the ticks are on the body of the host animal.  After their blood meal,
the hard bodied female drops to the ground and lays one large batch of eggs which may
number over 5,000 eggs.  Soft bodied females may feed several times and lay up to 50
eggs after each meal.  Eggs from both species will usually hatch  in three  to four weeks
although it may take considerably longer when weather conditions are particularly dry or
cool.

Ticks are vectors which spread numerous pathogens (disease causing organism) from one
animal to another. Among these pathogens and resulting diseases are: Viruses which can
cause yellow fever, tick fever, and encephalitis. Bacteria which causes plague, relapsing
fevers, and tularemia.  Round worms which can cause elephantitus and heartworms, and
Rickettsiae which causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, louse borne typhus and trench
fever.

Lyme disease is a widespread debilitating disease caused by a spirochete which affects
humans and is spread primarily by the hard tick species.  This disease commonly attacks
the white tailed deer and was first reported in Lyme, Connecticut in 1975 and since then
has spread to three main regions of the country....the northeast in coastal areas from
northern Virginia to southern Maine, the northern midwest in Minnesota and Wisconsin,
and the west....parts of California, Oregon, Utah and Nevada.

Symtoms include acute headache, to more serious nervous system impairment including
symptoms which may resemble rheumatoid arthritis to a low grade fever to abdominal
and joint pain as well as dizziness and a painful stiff neck.  Effective treatments for this
disease are readily available from physicians.

Several types of ticks are especially important when discussing their effect on humans
and on our quality of life:  The Brown Dog Tick, the American Dog Tick, and the
the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (which are all from the Ixodidae or hard tick family),
the Common Fowl Tick and the Relapsing Fever Tick (from the Argasidae), or soft
tick family.

Hard-bodied ticks to be concerned about are the:

Brown Dog Ticks  One of the most widely distributed species in the world.  They may be
found on a number of different hosts but are most commonly found on domesticated dogs,
especially in the United States, but in other parts of the world they have a far greater range
of hosts.

These ticks attach themselves to the ears, between the paws and around the eyes of our pet
dogs and all four developement stages usually take place on that one host.

Brown Dog Ticks can be found outdoors in the southern United States all year long but are
found outdoors only in the warmer months in the northern climates.  They are most active in
late summer and early fall and may be found crawling on carpets, on walls and on furniture.

Adult males are flat....around 1/8 inch long ......and are colored  a red-brown with tiny pits
covering the back.  They do not become bloated while feeding, as do the females.  The larva
can live up to eight months while awaiting a suitable host and the adults can live for 18 to 20
months without feeding, but must have a blood meal in order to mate.

American Dog Tick As the name implies, Dogs are the preferred host for this species but
they will also feed on other large animals.  Larva and nymphs of this species feed exclusively
on small rodents and newly hatched larva are bright yellow in color with red markings near
the eyes.  The nymphs are similar in appearance to the larva but have four pairs of legs.  The
adults are generally brown but become slate grey when engorged on a blood meal.
 
This tick is one of the vectors for  the  organism which causes Rocky Mountain Spotted
Fever and is also one of the primary species involved with  tick paralysis.  It is also the
most widely distributed tick of this genus in North America and is the type most widely
encountered by professional pest control technicians.  It occurs in the eastern and central
United States.

Rocky Mountain Wood Tick This tick is found (oddly enough??) in the Rocky Mountains
and is another vector for the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  This species also is involved
with tick paralysis( a condition which renders the victim inert and gasping for air).  It is a very
serious condition that somtimes proves fatal.

The larva and nymphs are usually found on small rodents while the adults are found on larger
mammals.  This species is a common problem for campers in the  Rocky  Mountain  area and
everyone who vacations in that area should take extra precautions and check each other for
signs of the small but dangerous parasite.

Soft bodied ticks to be concerned about are the:

Common Fowl Tick This tick, also known as the chicken tick and the "blue bug" is common
to poultry houses in the southern and southwestern parts of the United States.  It often kills
chickens and will use humans for hosts if given a chance.

Relapsing Fever Tick Another minor group of ticks which can transmit organisms which
cause relapsing fever and are found in buildings in the western and southern United States.
 

>The use of repellents are recommended when hiking through dense vegetation or when
  camping  in heavily wooded areas.

>Rubber bands should be applied around the wrists and ankles of longsleeved shirts and
  long pants to keep ticks from crawling up under clothes.

>Keep the lawn around personal residence' cut on a regular basis.

>Seal any potential entry points into your home and seal all outside cracks where ticks
  could hide.

>The use of residual sprays such as  Sevin, Malathion, and other allowed insecticides to
  treat a wide band ( 5 to 10 feet) around the outside perimeter of your residence.
 
>The use of residual sprays such as pyrethiums or other legal sprays for the treatment of
  the insides of  residences.(consult your local Department of Agriculture for a list of
  approved chemicals.)

>Pets bedding should be washed in hot water and the area where the pet sleeps should
  be sprayed especially heavy to get rid of all larva, nymphs and adults. Do not allow
  the pet to contact this sprayed area until it is completely dry.

>Your pet should be treated with an approved shampoo which contains the ingredients
   necessary to kill all stages of tick development.( consult your local veterinarian for such
   approved treatments.)