What Exactly Is A Tick?
Ticks are often mistaken for insects, but they are actually considered arachnids, putting them in the same category as spiders. Ticks are usually classified as soft ticks or hard ticks. Soft ticks tend to feed on bats, birds, and other animals, while hard ticks are more likely to feed on humans or pets. All the different kinds of ticks we’ll be looking at in this article are hard ticks, as these are generally the most problematic for homeowners.
Three of the more common types of ticks in McAllen are the blacklegged tick, the American dog tick, and the lone star tick. The blacklegged tick, also called the deer tick is in McAllen and is known for both the dark color of its legs and the fact that white-tailed deer are often its preferred host. They have orange-brown bodies with eight legs and two antennae. When not engorged, they are usually an eighth of an inch long or less, with females being larger than males.
The American dog tick is named for its preference for domestic dogs and its exclusivity to the area of North America. These ticks are usually brown with white or gray markings. They can range from three-sixteenths of an inch to five-eighths of an inch long, depending on whether or not they have eaten recently. Larvae have six legs, while the adults have eight. Lone star ticks are named after the single silver-white spot found on the backs of females. They can range from an eighth of an inch long to just over half an inch long. They are a reddish-brown color until they become engorged, turning slate gray. Next, let’s talk about the dangers of tick infestations in McAllen.
Ticks Are Known To Spread Many Dangerous Diseases
The most prominent dangers of a tick infestation are the diseases these pests carry. Some of the diseases caused by ticks include Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, encephalitis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These diseases can have lasting effects, so it’s important that you do everything you can to keep ticks away and protect yourself and your family from them.
Fortunately, many ticks have a hard time surviving indoors, and there are steps you can take to prevent these pests from becoming a big issue. Let’s take a look at some of those steps now.
Effective Tips To Protect Yourself From Tick Bites
Ticks are potentially dangerous pests, so keeping your home and family safe should be a high priority when dealing with them. While professional tick control in McAllen can help with certain kinds of tick infestations, there are things you and your family can do to decrease your risk of being bitten by a tick.
Here are a few simple tips:
- Make sure to keep the grass in your yard well-trimmed.
- Whenever possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants in light colors while outside.
- Use an insect repellent containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or another EPA-approved ingredient.
- Inspect children and pets for ticks when they come inside.
Following these steps can help keep your pets and loved ones safe from ticks. If you need help with a tick infestation in your McAllen home, you can always call BUGWORKS Termite & Pest Control.
The Key To Effective Tick Control For McAllen Properties
When you need tick protection and removal fast, BUGWORKS Termite & Pest Control is here for you. We’ve been serving the Rio Grande Valley since 2004, providing excellent service to both homes and businesses.
Our team is familiar with the challenges of living in the McAllen area, and you can count on us to provide same-day service whenever possible. Don’t let ticks take over; contact BUGWORKS Termite & Pest Control today to get started and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in McAllen.