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Winter Tick: Dermacentor Albipictus

February 2, 2023 by Brian Kelly

Moose in a snowy forestWinter typically isn’t prime time for ticks. Nearly all tick species are most active during the warmer months – April through September. Some even die off or become dormant when the weather cools. But there is one tick species that flourishes in cold weather… decimating wild animal populations and wreaking havoc on northern ecosystems.

What Is A Moose Tick?

The Dermacentor albipictus, also known as a moose tick or winter tick, is a parasitic arachnid. It is a one-host tick, feeding on a single host throughout its larval, nymphal, and adult life stages – only dropping off to lay eggs and die.

The moose or winter tick feeds primarily on ungulates like moose, deer, elk, or caribou. Sometimes they feed on horses, cattle, coyotes, beavers, or black bears if they cannot find another host. Although they rarely find their way onto humans, they have been found on pet dogs. So, care needs to be taken if you take your pets to an area where these ticks are present.

Why Are They Called Winter Ticks?

The dermacentor albipictus is known as a winter tick because it thrives in cold temperatures. Most tick species become less active during the cold months, but winter ticks are most active in autumn and winter – causing devastating consequences for their primary host species.

Even though they don’t transmit diseases, thousands of these ticks will attach to a single host for up to six months causing massive blood loss and extreme weakening. Moose are especially vulnerable to winter tick depredations. Moose will rub off their own fur trying to remove the ticks, subsequently freezing to death because they are no longer protected by their thick winter coats. In some areas of New England, these ticks wiped out nearly 90 percent of all moose calves during the winter of 2021-22.

Where Are Winter Ticks Found?

Found throughout Canada, Northern New England, Minnesota, and in certain areas of the Rockies; the dermacentor albipictus’s range is quite broad. Winter ticks aren’t a Long Island problem currently but – like many pests – their range is constantly changing.

They haven’t been officially documented by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. But scientists are concerned that winter ticks may expand their range into the Adirondacks, Taconic Highlands, and other areas of New York State where moose are present.

East End Tick Control® Can Provide Year-round Tick Prevention

While moose ticks aren’t a problem for residents of East End Long Island at this point, black-legged (deer) ticks are still active in the colder months. If you see signs of any kind of ticks on your property, East End Tick Control® is your removal and exclusion expert. If you’re in Southampton, call (631) 287-9700; in East Hampton, call (631) 324-9700; or in Southold, call (631) 765-9700. You can also message us online for more information or to request a free estimate.

Filed Under: Outdoor Pests, Ticks / Tick Information, Winter

Can Ticks Survive Winter?

January 5, 2023 by Brian Kelly

ticks winter survivalIcy roads, high heating bills, frozen pipes, shoveling snow. These are all concerns we deal with during a Long Island winter. But ticks? Do we need to worry about ticks in the heart of winter? The answer may come as an unpleasant surprise for you.
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Filed Under: Tick Prevention Tips, Ticks / Tick Information, Winter

What Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

December 15, 2022 by Brian Kelly

rocky mountain spotted fever faqFor Long Island residents, ticks are a part of life. Often found in wooded areas and tall grass, ticks present more than just a nuisance to you and your family, but potentially life-threatening illnesses. There are several tick-borne illnesses, the most common one being Lyme disease.

Lyme disease causes fever, headache, and fatigue. If it goes untreated for too long, Lyme disease can cause infection to spread into the joints, nervous system, or even the heart. Approximately 35,000 people in the United States contract Lyme disease annually, averaging nearly 100 cases daily. And that’s only one of the tick-borne illnesses. Another potentially deadly tick-borne illness of note is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
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Filed Under: Tick Diseases, Ticks / Tick Information

Now Is the Time To Get Winter Tick Shield Protection

November 17, 2022 by Brian Kelly

tick shieldWhen temperatures dip, you may think pest-related threats have ended for the winter. This is true for some pests but not so for ticks. April through October is considered tick season in the northeast United States, but these disease-carrying pests can thrive well into autumn and winter. Ticks are active when temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, emerging from mulch beds and from under wood piles. Our Tick Shield granular treatment will kill new ticks as they hatch, providing year-round protection.
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Filed Under: Prevention, Tick Control, Ticks / Tick Information, Winter

5 Tips for Avoiding Ticks in the Fall

October 20, 2022 by Brian Kelly

tick preventative sprayingAutumn is prime time to prepare your yard for the winter ahead – to rake up fallen leaves, mulch, plant bulbs, and clear away garden clutter. It’s also an excellent season for spending time in nature: walking through woods ablaze in fall color or sitting around a cozy fire pit. One might think that fall is an idyllic, bug-free season with its cooler temperatures, but don’t let down your guard. There are still ticks out there, waiting for the perfect host to latch on to; don’t let it be you, your family, or your pets.
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Filed Under: Tick Control, Ticks / Tick Information

Are Ticks Attracted To Certain Scents?

September 22, 2022 by Brian Kelly

ticks and scent attractionWhy do some people never seem to get bitten by ticks, while others are absolute tick-magnets? Are there certain human traits that attract or repel ticks? Yes, there are! By understanding how ticks detect their prey, we can understand why some individuals are more likely than others to attract ticks.
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Filed Under: Ticks / Tick Information

How Are Ticks Related to Spiders?

August 18, 2022 by Brian Kelly

ticks vs spidersWhen it comes to bugs, not all creepy-crawly critters are created equally. Some bugs are insects, and some are not. Insects are small, six-legged animals, often with wings. Ticks may be small, and some may have six legs when they’re young, but ticks aren’t insects. They’re arachnids and share more characteristics with spiders than ants, flies, beetles, and other insects.

Are Ticks Related To Spiders?

Ticks are more closely related to spiders than they are to insects. Like spiders, they are a part of the arachnid family, along with mites and scorpions. Both spiders and adult ticks have eight legs and lack antennae and wings. Can ticks spin webs? Unlike their spider cousins, ticks are opportunistic predators, waiting for their prey to wander close enough to latch onto.

What Is The Difference Between A Tick And A Spider?

Both spiders and ticks are arachnids, but ticks aren’t spiders; rather. Ticks are a mite species, and mites are tiny, primarily parasitic pests that often cause itchy bites that can transmit various diseases.

Spiders and ticks are built differently. Both are arthropods– invertebrates with external skeletons and jointed legs, but spiders have segmented bodies while ticks do not, and Spiders have a separate cephalothorax and abdomen. Ticks have small, flat, unsegmented bodies that enable them to attach easily to a host.

These arachnid cousins have very different diets as well. Most spiders consume insects, but some will eat nectar, pollen, seeds, leaves, web silk, or dead arthropods. Some even eat their exoskeleton after shedding it! Larger spider species may consume small lizards, birds, bats, or fish. Humans, pets, and livestock are only part of the spider diet in monster movies, and they do not seek out humans as dietary staples.

On the other hand, ticks feed on the blood of mammals – people, pets, wild animals – and livestock, as well as on birds, reptiles, and amphibians. They are parasites that latch onto their host with their mouthparts, feasting on a blood meal.

Tick Bites vs. Spider Bites

Unlike ticks, spiders rarely transmit infectious diseases, and their bites are usually harmless. The exceptions are black widow and brown recluse spider bites that transmit toxic venom, causing pain, flu-like symptoms, skin lesions, and neurotoxicity.

Ticks, on the other hand, are a vector of multiple diseases. It’s estimated that more than half the ticks on Long Island carry Lyme disease. This bacterial disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of the black-legged tick, causing flu-like symptoms and a distinctive bullseye rash. East End residents are at risk of tick-borne diseases, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, so closely monitor the results of any tick encounters.

Call East End Tick Control® For Peace Of Mind

East End Tick Control® is Eastern Suffolk County’s most-experienced tick control company, providing the East End with effective tick extermination treatments since 1997. Protect your family from disease-carrying ticks year-round by requesting a free estimate now or by calling our Southampton office at (631) 287-9700, our East Hampton office at (631) 324-9700, or our Southold office at (631) 765-9700.

Filed Under: Crawling Pests, Tick Control, Ticks / Tick Information

The Importance of Tick Identification

August 4, 2022 by Brian Kelly

ticks of long islandThe dangers of tick bites are well known to East End residents. If a tick bites you, you’re wise to be concerned about contracting a tick-borne illness. But does it matter what kind of tick has bitten you? A tick is a tick, and they’re all bad, right? Actually, no. While most ticks carry pathogens, different types of ticks cause various illnesses, and some are far more dangerous to humans than others. It’s important to know what kind of tick has bitten you so you can understand what health consequences you may experience and what symptoms to look for.
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Filed Under: Tick Diseases, Ticks / Tick Information

Five Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe This Tick Season

July 7, 2022 by Brian Kelly

ticks and kid safetyFew insects inspire fear like ticks. Partially because they look a bit like tiny spiders, but even more because we know they latch on to us, suck our blood, and potentially leave behind a host of different tick-borne diseases; just the thought of a tick can make your skin crawl.

For most people, the obvious answer is to avoid them. But when you are a parent, especially a parent with children who enjoy playing outdoors, there is an ever-present threat of one of the little monsters attacking your little monster.

So how do you keep your kids safe from ticks? As with most insect bite prevention, the key is planning.

  1. First, when your children go outside, know where they will be and evaluate the risk. While your backyard might not seem like a haven for ticks, you might be mistaken. The first step in keeping kids safe is ensuring your yard is not hospitable to ticks.

    The Centers for Disease Control suggests frequently mowing, keeping leaves raked and wood neatly stacked in a sunny, dry place. They also say to keep swings, monkey bars, and other play equipment in bright areas, not under a shade tree. Remember that play equipment in the sun can get hot and cause burns.

  2. The next step in preventing ticks on your child is to clothe them appropriately. It’s time to forgo favorite colors that are dark and allow bugs to hide. Instead, opt for light-colored clothing and closed-toe shoes. Wearing a hat is always a good idea when under trees and staying out of high weeds.
  3. The third step to keeping your children safe during tick season is learning to perform a good tick check and safely remove a tick found on your child.

    Every time your child comes in from the outdoors, it’s a good idea to do a quick visual inspection to look for ticks.

    Not sure how to check for ticks on a child? This YouTube tutorial can help. The key is to inspect their hairline and all the crevices an insect might be able to hide in. Often ticks are found on the scalp or in the armpits, but the mother in the video found a tick in her son’s belly button.

    One way to help prevent a tick from latching onto your child is to have them take a bath or shower as soon as they enter. This also helps get rid of any allergens they pick up while outside.

  4. What to do ff I find a tick on my child? That’s where the fourth step comes in: don’t panic.

    Yes, ticks in New York can carry disease, but getting rid of the tick as quickly as possible is essential. Remove the tick from your child, and then worry about the consequences.

    Grab a pair of tweezers and a plastic bag. Grasp the tick as close to the head as possible and pull it directly away from the skin. Put the tick in the plastic bag, rinse the wound with soap and water or an antiseptic and then call your pediatrician’s office for advice. Some doctors may want to see the tick to determine the chances of it making your child sick and recommend any follow-up treatment.

  5. The fifth step in preventing ticks on your children this summer should be your first step. Call East End Tick Control and talk to us about tick prevention treatment for your property. You’ll still want to be careful and use insect repellent, but you’ll sleep a lot easier if you know you’ve done all you can to keep ticks out of your yard and off your kids.

Prevent Ticks by Calling East End Tick Control

Although Lyme disease is highly treatable, prevention is the best cure. Professional tick mitigation is one of the most effective ways to avoid these pests on your property. Since 1997, East End Tick and Mosquito Control® have been Suffolk County’s most trusted tick control company. For 25 years, we use the most effective extermination methods to protect yourself and your family. Request a free estimate now or call our Southampton office at (631) 287-9700, our East Hampton office at (631) 324-9700, or our Southold office at (631) 765-9700.

Filed Under: Summer, Tick Prevention Tips, Ticks / Tick Information

The Life Cycle of Ticks

February 10, 2022 by Brian Kelly

tick life cyclesOne of the best ways to avoid tick encounters and minimize the likelihood of contracting a tick-borne illness is to understand their life cycle. If you are bitten by a tick, knowing where it’s at in its development will help you determine your risk of disease and the course of action you need to take.
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Filed Under: Ticks / Tick Information

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