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Rhipicephalus
sanguineus
Characteristics –
Size: May reach nearly 1/4-inch in length. After
taking a blood meal, however, the female may measure about 1/2-inch
or larger.
Color: Uniformly dark reddish brown with no markings.
Behavior –
Brown dog ticks do not confine themselves to dogs but will also
attach themselves to many other animals and people. On dogs, adult
ticks are typically found on the ears and between the toes, while
immature ticks feed along the dog's back. Outdoors, a brown dog tick
crawls up on grasses, shrubs, and other vegetation, then attaches
itself to a passing host, which may be a dog, deer, rabbit, person,
etc. The brown dog tick is known for infesting homes after being
carried inside on pets, usually dogs. Indoors, a female may lay eggs
in a crack and after a few weeks, hundreds of young ticks, called
larvae, may be seen crawling about in search of a host. Usually, the
ticks seek out a dog or cat, but may crawl onto and feed on humans
in the home. Larval ticks and adults are capable of surviving long
periods up to eight months without feeding. Outdoors, wildlife, such
as raccoons and possums, may be responsible for bringing ticks into
a yard, or the ticks may crawl into the yard from a neighboring
property. The brown dog tick is important because it is known to
transmit diseases to humans, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever,
tularemia, human babesiosus, and human ehrlichiosis. In addition,
the threat of bacterial infection is possible at the site of any
tick bite, and, in rare cases, may even result in blood poisoning.
Habitat – Brown dog ticks are greater pests in
southern states but not in the north. They are typically found in
heavy vegetation and tall grasses where dogs and other animals have
been active. In yards, the ticks are usually found around shrubs and
in landscaped areas, but will also be found in dog houses and
kennels and beneath decks (if the pet has access beneath it).
Inside, the ticks drop off the pet after taking their blood meal and
crawl into cracks around baseboards, door frames, and window
frames.
Tips for Control – Ticks are notoriously
difficult to control in and around homes. Repeated treatments are
often required to finally eliminate the ticks. In some cases where
wildlife may be continuing to reintroduce ticks to a yard, continued
tick control services may be necessary. Several factors need to be
considered when controlling ticks:
 | Regular
treatment of dogs (and possibly cats) for ticks (completed under
the direction and care of a veterinarian).
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| Regular
inspection of cats and dogs and prompt removal of ticks
(completed by pet owner using techniques supplied by a
veterinarian).
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| Removing
or limiting the amount of thick vegetation on the property.
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| Trapping
and removing wildlife that is coming onto the property
(completed by a qualified wildlife removal specialist).
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| Treatment
of vegetation where ticks are found outdoors (completed by a
licensed pest control company, such as Curtis Pest Control).
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| Treatment
of cracks and voids indoors where ticks are found to be active
(completed by a licensed pest control company, like Curtis Pest
Control).
Patience may be necessary as repeat efforts are often required
to produce satisfactory reduction of tick populations,
especially outside. |
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