Worried about ticks? You probably should be. With so much media coverage concerning the dangers of ticks, it’s unlikely you don’t know about how dangerous these arachnids can cause. Among the worst offenders is the Lone Star Tick. This FAQ may help you understand more about them.

Why Should I Worry? While the Lone Star Tick does not transmit Lyme Disease, it can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or what’s called STARI (southern tick-associated rash illness). This rash may resemble the “bullseye” we sometimes see with Lyme Disease, but the Lone Tick doesn’t transmit the same bacteria that causes that commonly known condition. The beginning symptoms are similar, though, which include flu-like experiences: fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches, though patience recover quickly with a treatment of antibiotics.

Where Are They Found? Lone Star Ticks dwell in wooded areas with dense undergrowth. If you live in an area near tall grass on the periphery of a wooded area, or with dense foliage, and experience ticks, we recommend lawn care treatment as well as inside homes (ticks crawl inside for warmth during the winter months) to keep ticks out. We use low-impact methods to create a space that’s no longer attractive for ticks to lie in wait for hosts.

Are They Similar to Other Ticks? In some respects, they are very similar. For example, There are three stages of this tick’s life cycle, and all three are aggressive human biters.

  1. Larvae: Of the three stages, larvae is active latest into the season (September), though they don’t typically start feeding until July. They feed off small animals and humans for around 4 days before falling off and molting into nymphs.
  2. Nymphs: Nymphs tend to crawl up pant legs in droves and can bite within ten minutes. We begin to see the nymphs in May, and they stay until early August. If they latch on undetected, they’ll feed for about a week, fall off, and molt into adults.
  3. Adults: Adult Lone Stars settle on tall grass or on low-lying branches waiting to attach themselves to small animals and people. Adults are most active from late spring through August.

What Should I Do? After spending time near any dense undergrowth, near, or through, woods, sweep your body for ticks. Hopefully, you will feel them crawling before they attach, but if not, a simple check can help locate any feeders. Pay close attention to moist areas (underarms, groin) and your scalp (especially behind ears, but really throughout any hair). The sooner you can detach them, the better.

If you do find a tick on you, it’s important to remove the entirety of its body, as its head may be sunk under your skin. Use a tweezers to pull it out, and kill it, so that it cannot re-attach to anything. Make sure to check your pets for ticks as well; if they’re present nearby, you’ll likely find some on your dog.

The Lone Star Tick is the most common tick biter for humans throughout Florida. If you think ticks might be present, give us a call and we will assess inside and out to keep these harmful critters away.