They’re coming! Your guide to surviving tick season.

They’re coming! Your guide to surviving tick season.

As winter draws to a close for another year, we’re all longing for the warmer weather and beautiful flowers which mark the start of spring. However, something else which comes with spring is the increased activity of ticks.

Although ticks can be found almost all year ‘round, they certainly step things up about this time of year so, how about we talk all things ticks.

The basics
In Australia we have over 70 species of ticks, with the most common being the paralysis tick. In fact, about 95% of tick bites in Eastern Australia are from these guys.
There are four stages in the life-cycle of ticks and they require blood to help them grow and to progress through each of the stages:

  • egg – laid in summer.
  • larvae – are about 1mm long, light brown in colour and most visible in autumn.
  • nymph – approx. 2mm long, pale brown in colour and most visible in winter.
  • adult – 4-5mm long, without blood and most visible in spring. Females rely on blood to provide protein for them to lay their eggs.

Ticks are most active in high humidity for example, after rain. They generally don’t climb up plants or trees but will wait in long grass for animals, such as humans, to attach to.

What happens when they bite?
In order to get the blood they need, ticks pierce the skin of their host and inject anticoagulant saliva, allowing it to feed. Although most bites simply result in redness and swelling, the saliva may be highly toxic to some animals, including humans and may bring on anaphylaxis or tick paralysis.

Symptoms of tick paralysis include rash, headache, flu-like symptoms, weakness of the limbs and partial facial paralysis.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis include swelling of the throat, leading to breathing problems.

What should you do if you find a tick?
If you’ve been out in a tick-infested area, remove your clothing and put in the dryer for 20 minutes. Check your body for ticks, paying particular attention to their favoured hiding spots, such as behind the ears and the back of your head and neck.

If you’re not allergic to ticks, you can remove it by first freezing the tick with a product which contains ether (eg. Wart Off). Once sprayed, grab the tick as close to your skin as possible using fine-tipped forceps, not tweezers. However, if you’re at all concerned, see your doctor.

How can you prevent ticks?
When out in the garden or walking in any kind of known tick area, be prepared by wearing long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks. Apply DEET to keep ticks away and opt for light-coloured clothing for easy detection.

Ticks don’t like sunny, dry environments so try to avoid leaky taps or leaving garden watering systems on for extended periods of time. To limit their possible hiding spots, keep your lawn short and your trees and bushes well pruned. Tidy up leaf litter and ensure your compost bin is well-sealed, preventing rats and rodents who carry ticks. If your home shares a border with bushland, create a barrier by laying wooded mulch or gravel between the bush and your yard.

For pet-owners, schedule a regular and thorough check of their fur, again focusing on hiding spots such as behind the ears, under the legs and between the toes.

Even though here in Australia we love the great outdoors, we don’t always have to love all the creepy crawlies which share it with us. With this guide to ticks, you’ll now be prepared should you happen to find one and for how to best avoid them all together.

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about these or other pests you may have found in your home. Please get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you! Email drop us a line or email us at [email protected]



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    CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM FOR A FREE quote 0405 924 402

    Prefer organising a site visit over email? No worries! Fill out our opposite and we will be in touch asap.

    We service the Northern Beaches and Sydney-wide
    • Northern Beaches
    • North Shore
    • Northern Suburbs
    • Eastern Suburbs
    • Sydney CBD
    • Inner West

    CONTACT US

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