Ticks
Ixodidae family
Ticks are small, blood-feeding arachnids measuring 1/8 to 1/4 inch long before feeding, expanding significantly when engorged. Common species include deer ticks (black-legged ticks), American dog ticks, and lone star ticks. These parasites are dangerous disease vectors that attach to humans and animals, feeding for several days if not removed. They're most commonly encountered in wooded areas, tall grass, and leaf litter.
Habitat & Behavior
Ticks live in outdoor environments with vegetation, particularly wooded areas, tall grass, brush, leaf litter, and along trails. They wait on vegetation in a behavior called 'questing,' extending their front legs to grab onto passing hosts. After feeding, they drop off to molt or lay eggs. Ticks require humidity to survive and are most abundant in shaded, moist areas with dense vegetation and wildlife activity.
Signs of Infestation
- Finding ticks crawling on clothing, skin, or pets after outdoor activity
- Discovering attached ticks embedded in skin, particularly in warm, moist areas
- Pets scratching or showing signs of tick attachment
- Circular rash (bulls-eye pattern) appearing days after tick bite
- Increased tick encounters in yard areas with tall grass or wooded edges
- Wildlife activity in yard bringing ticks onto property
Health & Property Risks
Ticks transmit serious diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Deer ticks are the primary carriers of Lyme disease, which can cause long-term health complications if untreated. Early symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and distinctive bulls-eye rash. Ticks must typically feed for 24-48 hours to transmit most diseases, making prompt removal critical. Pets are also susceptible to tick-borne diseases and can bring ticks into homes.
Prevention Tips
- Keep grass mowed short and remove leaf litter, brush, and tall grass
- Create a 3-foot wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawn and wooded areas
- Treat pets with veterinarian-approved tick prevention products year-round
- Wear long pants tucked into socks and light-colored clothing when in tick habitats
- Perform thorough tick checks on yourself, children, and pets after outdoor activities
- Install deer fencing to reduce wildlife that carry ticks onto your property
Professional Treatment Approach
Greenix's tick control program focuses on reducing tick populations in yards through targeted barrier treatments. We apply professional-grade acaricides to vegetation, leaf litter, wooded edges, and transition zones where ticks quest for hosts. Treatment includes tall grass areas, stone walls, woodpiles, and perimeter zones. We recommend habitat modification including vegetation management and wildlife exclusion. Applications are timed for maximum effectiveness during peak tick activity periods and repeated throughout the season for continuous protection.
Related Pests
Other common specialty you might encounter
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects measuring 1/4 to 3/8 inch long with oval-shaped bodies. After feeding on blood, they become swollen and darker red. These nocturnal parasites hide during the day in cracks near sleeping areas and emerge at night to feed on humans. They're excellent hitchhikers, spreading through luggage, furniture, and clothing.
Fleas
Fleas are tiny, dark reddish-brown insects measuring 1/16 to 1/8 inch long with flattened bodies designed for moving through pet fur. They have powerful hind legs capable of jumping up to 8 inches vertically. Cat fleas are the most common species affecting both cats and dogs. Adult fleas feed exclusively on blood and can consume 15 times their body weight daily.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are slender, flying insects measuring 1/4 to 3/8 inch long with long legs and a prominent proboscis. Females require blood meals for egg development while males feed on nectar. These pests produce the distinctive high-pitched whining sound from their rapidly beating wings. Different species are active at different times - some bite during the day while others are active at dawn, dusk, or night.
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