Types Of Ticks
The Many Types Of Ticks And The Dangers They Pose To Humans
Any of the many types of ticks can cause disease, as these arachnid parasites visit a number of hosts, passing potentially detrimental viruses, bacteria, and pathogens from one animal to another. Commonly though of as the most troublesome and dangerous types of ticks to humans and household pets, the tiny deer tick is very hard to see, feel, and identify. The nymph stage of this species is held responsible for over 70% of Lyme Disease infections in North America, and he is a fraction of the size of his puny parents.
The larger types of ticks, with the exception of the western black-legged tick, who is quite a bit larger than the deer tick but just as dangerous, are generally considered to be pesky at worst. The standard brown dog tick, for instance, is easy to spot, remove, kill, and prevent. They insist on the tender, often hairless areas beneath the flaps of the ears and in the muzzle and lip areas. They begin their feeding as a standard, brown, 1/8 inch arachnid, and often end up looking like a plump, greenish-gray raisin, up to the size of a dime. These gluttons are not prone to carrying disease to either humans or pets, but are still not considered to be welcome guests.
There are many types of ticks around the world, and in many undeveloped countries they are considered to be just as deadly as the disease ridden mosquito. Of late, relief and scientific personnel have begun guarding villages and huts with pesticide soaked mosquito nets, which have been reported to reduce the instances of childhood deaths by nearly 90%. Promising results like these are spurring affirmative action against ticks and mosquitoes the world over.
There are also types of ticks in North America who are indigenes to certain climatic conditions, such as the Golf Coast Tick, the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, and the Western Black-Legged Tick. The only one of these who is considered to be harmless is the Golf Coast Tick, and that may be a greater blessing than we know. There are so many dangers in that region already that a disease ridden parasite infestation may finally drive the remaining human population off of a cliff!
If you are having difficulty telling the difference between the types of ticks, you may want to keep any specimens that you come across. Having the ticks that you find in your yard and on your pets or person inspected and identified will help to give you peace of mind. This can also help your local DNR or wildlife conservation agency to keep abreast of tick populations and the possible spread of Lyme Disease.