Interesting Facts about Ticks – All you Need to Know
The weather is warming up as we enter summer, so it’s time to put away the winter coats and get outside to enjoy some fun. But do you know what else is about to be phased out? There are a lot of pests, particularly ticks.
Ticks are the insects that are most harmful to humans, as they may carry and spread diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This small bugger’s unintended bite could affect your life forever. So, how familiar are you with them?
There are about 850 species of ticks. Ticks are fascinating creatures, as evidenced by the following facts:
Interesting Facts about Ticks
Ticks are little insects that feed on animals’ blood. They can range in size from the size of a pinhead to the size of an eraser. Small ticks have eight legs because they are linked to Black Widow spiders.
In a single cycle, female ticks can lay between 2000 and 18000 eggs
The larva is 6 legged and the nymphs 8 legged. When a larva hatches from an egg, it feeds on a host before descending to the ground to digest the meal. The larva changes into an eight-legged nymph and searches for a host within 1-3 weeks. Before reaching adulthood, it might molt numerous times.
After 24 hours of feeding, female adults mate promptly. The male remains in close proximity to the female, they breed, and the female lays the eggs. As a result, they both die, and the cycle continues.
Ticks aren’t insects; they’re parasites
Surprised? That is correct. Ticks are arachnids, which means they’re related to spiders rather than drain flies or mosquitos. Ticks resemble spiders in appearance: They have four pairs of legs, no antennae, and, most crucially, no ability to fly or jump.
Life Span
Ticks may survive without food or water for up to 200 days, and their life spans between Two months to two years, depending on the species.
What do they consume?
Ticks eat the blood of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and other creatures. One of the reasons black-legged ticks are commonly referred to as deer ticks is that they feed on the blood of white-tailed deer.
The majority of home treatments found on the internet are ineffective
According to a review published in the British Medical Journal, you may obtain all kinds of tick removal advice on the internet. To “suffocate” a tick, some advocate applying petroleum jelly, gasoline, nail paint, or 70% isopropyl alcohol across its mouthparts. The problem is that none of these ways actually work, according to the researchers, because ticks can survive lengthy periods without air.
Conclusion
Ticks are one of the dangerous insects that can transfer deadly diseases. It is important to hire a professional pest control service to get rid of ticks for a long time.