July Pest of the Month Ticks by Mollie Keck

This year ticks are especially bad. The reason for this is because the dry weather has caused fire ants (a natural enemy of ticks) to go deep into the soil; therefore they are not controlling as many ticks as in years past. Wildlife are also migrating closer to our homes and structures in search of water, and bringing more ticks into the urban environment.

Ticks are not insects. They are arachnids and more closely related to spiders, scorpions, and mites. Ticks feed on blood and will attach to our pets or even to our own bodies. There are many different species of ticks in San Antonio, and unfortunately, many of them transmit diseases such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountiain Spotted Fever.

Avoiding ticks is the best way to protect yourself. Ticks like brushy, weedy areas or areas with tall grass. Cut down brush, weeds, and grass. Remove water sources and pet food to discourage wildlife from taking up resisdence. If you must be in areas where ticks are found, wear insect or tick repellent that contains the ingredient, DEET. You should also tuck your pants into your socks to keep ticks from attaching to the bare skin on your legs.

When you come indoors, do a tick check. Check your body in areas where clothes fit tightly: ankles, waist, underarms, and groin. If you have a tick on your body or find one on your pet, use tweezers to get as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out. This will help prevent the mouthparts from getting stuck in the skin.

If your pets have a tick problem, obtain the proper and effective treatment from your veterinarian. To treat outdoors, use a synthetic pyrethroid such as permethrin or bifenthrin. For ticks, sprays work better than granules. Treat areas where pets or wildlife rest, and also around weeds, brush, and tall grass.

For more information contact IPM Program Specialist and Entomologist, Molly Keck at 210-467-6575 or email at mekeck@ag.tamu.edu

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