Getting Rid of Ticks

Come spring and the common problem that almost all homes will encounter, is getting rid of ticks. You will think, analyze and try different methods to remove ticks. Alas! Had it been so easy to get rid of them. These tiny creatures mostly grow in wood and are believed to cause the lyme disease, the rocky mountain spotted fever and various other diseases. With the rapid increase in the population in the wooden areas of USA, ticks can be more dangerous, because they spread diseases.

What Are Ticks
Ticks are arachnids, like spiders, mites and scorpions, and they feed on the blood of the other hosts. They are not insects, but are parasites that feed on the blood of humans, domestic animals (cattle), wild animals and reptiles. It is a misconception that ticks are insects, but in fact they are arachnids. Broadly categorized, there are two types of ticks, the hard ticks and the soft ticks. Both the types of ticks have minor differences in lifestyle, structure and eating habits. In general, ticks consist of a harpoon like structure (hypostome), that is used to penetrate deep into the body of the host. Ticks that fly are rare, they mostly crawl or jump. Ticks use the carbon dioxide, smell, heat and other stimuli to locate their hosts. They may remain stuck to a leaf or a branch of a tree in your garden and while you pass through and brush through the leaves, they get stuck to you. Even when we take our pets on outings in some wooden areas, they come back home with ticks that may end up infesting the house. Usually, ticks are found three feet above the ground. Ticks are found in the rags of furniture, cervices of the walls and in the store rooms, terraces and yards of the house. Ticks are small in size and may be ½ inches, 3/16 inches or just the size of berries, like grapes! Let's discuss what are the ways of getting rid of ticks in house.

Getting Rid of Ticks In Home
It is necessary to identify the areas and places that are infested or affected by the ticks. It may be your body, furniture or the yard of the house.

Self Inspection
If you have visited some area or place ,where there has been an infestation of ticks and you suspect that you might be carrying them, then inspect your body and clothing carefully. Generally, it is not easy to identify the ticks, as they are small and have stuck their harpoons deep in the skin. Check out at bedtime, if the knees, back of the neck and lower parts of the legs have ticks stuck on them. Also, observe the creases and folding of the clothes. You simply can't say where these tiny creatures can hide, so better check them all at once. If you find ticks on your body, then take concrete steps to remove them immediately. How to get rid of ticks from your body? The safest and most preferred method to remove ticks from your body, is mentioned below.

• Get hold of the tick with tweezers, as close to the skin as possible. Don't touch them with hands, as it leads to infection.
• Slowly pull the body off the skin, by applying steady pressure. Don't crush, squeeze or twist the body of the ticks. Gently take it out. If some part, like the mouth, still remains in the body, then don't worry.
• Don't randomly throw the tick anywhere. Keep it in a bottle of alcohol, that will kill it or put a tape around it and store in a separate container.
• Wash the body part from where the tick was removed, with antiseptic soap and apply ointment. Consult your skin doctor if necessary.

Tick Repellents
There are many tick repellents like pyrethrins, damminix, diazinon and other pesticides, that are used to treat the tick infestation in the homes. Having said that, I would like to add that instead of using pesticides on our own knowledge, it is better to consult the pest control experts. The pest control experts adopt methods, that can reduce the risk of the side effects of the chemicals, that you may accidentally use at wrong places like, kitchen, bedrooms etc. The bite of a ticks can cause the canine lyme disease in dogs. You may read more about canine lyme disease symptoms and understand how it affects your dog.

Getting rid of ticks in the yard area can be a bit challenging, as the ticks may densely infest this area. Regular cleaning and employing pest control methods can help you eliminate the ticks. Wear light and full sleeve clothes while working in your garden areas, so that you can prevent the spreading of the ticks. Getting rid of ticks from your house requires patience and the strict adoption of hygiene measures.