If you have a pet or child that likes to play outdoors, you are probably familiar with ticks. But, contradictory to popular belief, a tick is actually an arachnid, not an insect.

Ticks are the second most common carrier of diseases (mosquitoes being the first). It is estimated that 70% of all Lyme Disease cases are caused by tick bites from ticks in our own yards, often via pets. So tick prevention and control are very important. Some species of ticks are more harmful than others and some are more likely to carry deadly diseases, and we discuss that too.

The best defense against Lyme Disease and other tick-born illnesses, is not to get bitten in the first place. You know, the old saying …

Prevention is better than cure

It has been shown repeatedly that a double-barreled prevention approach of Deet for the skin and Permethrin insect repellent for clothing is the best. That is also the system used by the Department of Defense (DoD) for US soldiers:

1. Apply Deet lotion or spray to all exposed areas of skin, and, for maximum protection, also apply Deet spray or MaxiDeet to natural-fiber clothing.

Here are some interesting facts and information about ticks:

• A hard tick seeks a blood meal at, or slightly above, ground level by climbing onto vegetation and using its forelegs to feel/grab for a host. Ticks are usually found from ground level to three feet above the ground. A tick uses carbon dioxide, scent, body heat, and other stimuli to find a host.
• Ticks are blood sucking external parasites that feed on humans, wild and domestic mammals, birds, reptiles and others. They are totally dependent on the blood/tissue fluids of the host. The longer an infective tick feeds, the greater the chance of infection.

Ticks are a small insect, often referred to as a mite, which can be quite bothersome and even mildly dangerous. Ticks are the second largest transporter of many diseases, second only to the mosquito. Ticks can be hard, with a stiff outer shell, or soft, with a permeable outer membrane. It is important to note that both types of ticks carry their own unique traits and diseases.

The most common species of ticks found in North America are: