Entomologists Offer 5 Tips for Tick Control
Despite the recent hype surrounding cicadas and murder hornets, it’s crucial not to overlook the threat of ticks. Tick bites can transmit harmful pathogens such as Lyme disease, and they often go unnoticed due to the anesthetic compound they secrete, making the bite painless. Ticks are most active in late spring and early summer but can be a concern year-round, including winter if temperatures remain above freezing.
To effectively control ticks, entomologist David Price recommends a multi-faceted approach that addresses different aspects of tick prevention. This includes managing tick habitats, applying appropriate products for different life stages of ticks, ensuring pets are treated, using repellents outdoors in grassy, brushy, shaded, and wooded areas, and conducting thorough tick checks after being outdoors. If you find a tick attached to your skin, avoid removing it with methods like lit matches or oils, as these may increase the risk of disease transmission. Instead, use tweezers to grasp the tick’s head close to the skin and lift it straight out with steady pressure.
How to Control Ticks, as Advised by Entomologists
1. Use Insect Repellent
Entomologist Dr. Tom Mascari recommends using personal insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin, such as OFF! products, to protect against ticks. The U.S. CDC suggests using repellents with at least 20% DEET on exposed skin and clothing. For those preferring DEET-free options, OFF! Defense Insect Repellent With Picaridin is a suitable choice. Always follow the instructions on the product for optimal protection.
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2. Wear Appropriate Clothing
When venturing into areas where ticks are common, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, tuck pants into socks, and use insect repellent as an additional safeguard. Staying on designated paths while hiking can also reduce the risk of tick contact.
3. Maintain Your Yard
Regularly mow your lawn and trim tall grass, small trees, and bushes to minimize tick habitats. Ticks do not jump but wait in grassy areas sensing CO2 and heat to latch onto hosts.
4. Establish a Barrier Against Ticks
To prevent ticks from entering your yard, create a three-foot mulch or gravel zone between the garden and wooded areas. Using products containing essential oils like geraniol and Virginian cedarwood oil can help repel or reduce tick populations.
5. Be Aware of Tick-Carrying Animals
Ensure stacked wood is stored in a dry area to deter field mice, primary hosts for ticks carrying Lyme disease pathogens. Discourage deer, opossums, raccoons, and foxes from entering your yard, as they can serve as second hosts for ticks. Treat your pets with tick prevention products like Frontline ($42).
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