Begin your inspection by starting low (feet, ankles, shins) and moving up (armpits and ears). Ticks like to hang out in piles of dead leaves and in tall grass and are experts at waiting patiently for a host to pass by. Ticks can attach anywhere, but they are most likely to latch onto your feet, ankles, shins, armpits and ears. July is usually the peak of tick season, as young ticks, known as nymphs, disperse in search of food. Ticks are most active and dangerous beginning in late spring and through the summer months. Look for dark, striped or spotted patches near the base of “the blob” should you suspect you’ve discovered an engorged tick in your inspections. This plate (known as a scutum) features a color and pattern unique to each species of tick and can help you to differentiate an engorged tick from another skin condition such as a blister, boil or wart. Check the Coat of ArmsĪll hard-bodied ticks-a category that includes such common pests as the dog tick, the black-legged (or deer) tick and the Lone Star tick-sport a hard plate above their heads. In fact, "white tick" is just a colloquial name for an engorged tick they are one and the same. But because they are full of blood, engorged ticks will often have a silver, green-grey or even white appearance. In addition to being very small, the majority of ticks are black or dark brown in color. Partially engorged ticks typically measure about one-eighth inch in diameter. And, because ticks can feed on a single host for as many as seven days, both young and adult ticks can swell to several times their original size. In fact, fully engorged ticks can balloon to up one-quarter to two-thirds inch in diameter. As these arachnids feed, they actually expand in order to accommodate the amount of blood they ingest. ![]() ![]() Look for any unusual raised areas on exposed skin as you inspect for ticks. Look for these signs and symptoms that you may be carrying one of these freeloading pests. Properly identifying engorged ticks can help reduce the risk of complications from tick-borne diseases. Your best defense against these blood-sucking bugs and the diseases they spread is close inspection. And some adult ticks can stay attached to your body for upwards of a week. ![]() Unfortunately, the longer a tick has been feeding, and the more engorged with blood it has become, the more you may be at risk of contracting a serious infection. And, unless you’re allergic, you won’t even feel the pinch or itch of a tick’s bite many ticks actually manufacture and secrete their own pain-killing chemicals so their hosts remain unaware of their presence. These parasitic arachnids (they are cousins of the spider) are often difficult to detect with the naked eye, but they can wreak havoc on your health. Do you work outdoors? Do you hike or camp frequently? Do you share your home with a pet that has recently had a tick problem? If so, be on the watch for ticks.
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