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Ticks
can be found in long grass, where they wait to attach
themselves to a host and can detect heat, carbon dioxide
emissions and vibrations of the host.
Ticks
attach themselves to hosts by inserting its cutting
mandibles and feeding tube (hypostome) into the skin.
The feeding tube serves as an anchor and the tick will
begin to feed. In general ticks will drop off hosts when
they are full, though this can take a number of days.
Ticks
are generally more active in warm weather and can be
founded in wooded, grassed areas where there is an
abundance of water (for it's hosts to drink from) or
where there are animal or human tracks with shrub
coverage.
To lessen the risk of being
bitten by a tick there are steps you can take including
wearing full length, light coloured trousers when
walking in long grassed areas as this will help you spot
any ticks attached to your clothing so you can dust
yourself down. Tuck your socks into your trousers to
ensure they can't make their way onto your skin.
You can
also wear tick repellent and it is advisable you treat
your pets (cats and dogs) with a tick repellent,
available at all reputable pet shops and veterinary
surgeries, to help them reduce the risk of being bitten.
However if you do find you
have a tick attached to your skin don't panic, not all
ticks transmit Lyme Disease. Though the quicker the
removal of the tick the less likely you will contract
Lyme Disease.
Removing a tick from either
yourself of your pets is the same. Use a pair of
tweezers with bend heads. Grasp the tick as close to the
skin as possible and pull slowly with even pressure and
the tick will come free.
Using old wives' remedies
such as touching the tick with an ignited match will
only anger the tick and could make them regurgitate
their stomach contents into your blood stream.
To ensure you and your pets
remain tick free make frequent 'tick checks' when you
have been walking in long undergrowth as the longer a
tick is attached there is a greater chance of
contracting Lyme Disease. |
