What You Need to Know About Ticks in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
A tick is a small, blood-sucking arachnid that is commonly found in wooded areas, tall grasses, and leaf litter. Ticks are external parasites that feed on the blood of animals and humans. Ticks attach to their hosts by inserting their mouthparts into the skin, and they can remain attached for several days while they feed.
Ticks are small, arachnid parasites that vary in size depending on their stage of development and species. They have eight legs, and their bodies are typically flat and oval-shaped. Ticks range in color from brown to reddish-brown or black, and they may have patterns or markings on their bodies. Their mouthparts are designed to pierce the skin of their host and suck blood. When engorged with blood, ticks can swell to several times their normal size. It's important to know how to identify ticks so that you can take steps to protect yourself and your pets from these disease-carrying pests.
Learn about the most common ticks in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
Ticks live in wooded areas, tall grasses, and leaf litter. They can attach to humans and pets when they brush up against vegetation or when they come into contact with an animal that is already infested with ticks. Ticks can also be brought into your home on clothing, pets, and other items.
The most common types of ticks found in this region are the black-legged tick (also known as the deer tick), the American dog tick, and the lone star tick are the most common ticks in Northern Virginia and Maryland.
Black-legged ticks:
Size: Adult black-legged ticks are about the size of a sesame seed, while nymphs are much smaller, about the size of a poppy seed.
Color: The black-legged tick has dark brown to black coloring on its body and legs, and its abdomen is reddish-brown.
Legs: The tick has eight legs, which are long and slender.
Mouthparts: The tick's mouthparts are visible from above and look like a small, pointed beak.
Life cycle: The black-legged tick has a two-year life cycle, during which it goes through four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
It's important to know how to identify the black-legged tick because it is a known carrier of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. If you find a black-legged tick on yourself or your pet, it's important to remove it as soon as possible to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
The American dog tick is a tick species that is commonly found in grassy and wooded areas throughout North America. Here are some characteristics that can help you identify the American dog tick:
Size: Adult American dog ticks are about the size of a watermelon seed, while nymphs are much smaller, about the size of a poppy seed.
Color: The tick has a reddish-brown body and legs, with a grayish or silver-white shield-shaped area behind its head.
Legs: The tick has eight legs, which are relatively short and stout.
Mouthparts: The tick's mouthparts are visible from above and look like a small, pointed beak.
Life cycle: The American dog tick has a three-year life cycle, during which it goes through four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
It's important to know how to identify the American dog tick because it can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia to humans and pets. If you find an American dog tick on yourself or your pet, it's important to remove it as soon as possible to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
The lone star tick is a tick species that is commonly found in the southeastern and eastern parts of the United States. Here are some characteristics that can help you identify the lone star tick:
Size: Adult lone star ticks are about the size of a watermelon seed, while nymphs are much smaller, about the size of a poppy seed.
Color: The female lone star tick has a distinctive white dot or "star" on its back, which is where the tick gets its name. The males and nymphs are usually brown.
Legs: The tick has eight legs, which are relatively long and slender.
Mouthparts: The tick's mouthparts are visible from above and look like a small, pointed beak.
Life cycle: The lone star tick has a three-year life cycle, during which it goes through four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
It's important to know how to identify the lone star tick because it can transmit diseases such as ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) to humans and pets. If you find a lone star tick on yourself or your pet, it's important to remove it as soon as possible to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
You most likely have a mosquito problem if you have a lot of standing water around your home. Standing water is the ultimate breeding ground for mosquitoes. Bird feeders, discarded tires, watering cans, and even clogged gutters can be great breeding grounds for these pests.
Ticks are commonly found in wooded areas, grassy fields, and other outdoor environments where they can easily attach themselves to passing hosts, such as humans and pets. Here are some reasons why you may have ticks in your area:
Proximity to tick habitats: If your home is located near wooded areas, parks, or other natural areas, you may be more likely to have ticks in your yard or on your property.
Pet activity: If you have pets that spend time outdoors, they may pick up ticks and bring them inside your home. Once inside, ticks can infest carpets, furniture, and other areas where pets spend time.
Human activity: If you spend time outdoors in tick-infested areas, you may inadvertently bring ticks into your home on your clothing or skin.
Climate and weather: Ticks are more active during warm and humid weather, so areas with high temperatures and rainfall are more likely to have tick populations.
It's important to take steps to prevent tick bites and reduce your risk of tick-borne illnesses. This includes using insect repellents, wearing protective clothing, checking yourself and your pets for ticks after spending time outdoors, and removing ticks promptly using proper techniques. If you have a tick infestation in your home or yard, it's best to contact a pest control professional to safely and effectively remove the ticks.
Yes, ticks can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Ehrlichiosis, which can cause serious illness in humans and pets if left untreated.
It's important to take measures to protect yourself and your pets from ticks, such as using insect repellent, wearing long pants and sleeves when spending time outside, checking for ticks after being outdoors, and keeping your yard trimmed and free of tall grasses and leaf litter. If you find a tick on yourself or your pet, use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water and monitor the bite site for any signs of a rash or other symptoms. Contact your physician or veterinarian ASAP for appropriate care if you find a tick bite.
Treatment of your home or yard with pesticides is the most effective solution to eliminating ticks. If you or a pet have ticks on you, consult a physician or veterinarian.
Tips for Preventing Ticks
Keep your yard tidy and eliminate tall grass, leaf litter, and other areas with vegetation.
Keep your lawn mowed and remove any debris or brush piles where ticks might hide.
Use tick repellents: Apply an EPA-approved tick repellent to your skin, clothing, and outdoor gear when you're going to be in tick-prone areas. Follow the product instructions carefully
Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and closed-toe shoes when you're in tick-prone areas. Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
Check yourself and your pets for ticks after spending time outdoors.
Maintain your pets' flea and tick protection.
How My Pest Pros Helps Eliminate Ticks
Ticks can transmit serious diseases to humans and pets, so it's important to take steps to protect yourself and your family. My Pest Pros uses specialized EPA-approved products to eliminate ticks from your home or yard while protecting your children and pets.
We will inspect your yard to identify problem areas and recommend how you can help reduce or treat them. Our technicians are trained to identify tick problem areas.
For ultimate protection, our professionals will work with you to find a customized solution for your tick problem, today and tomorrow.
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Our family had a positive experience with My Pest Pros (MPP) in removing a large hornet's nest (soccer-ball size) from a tree just above the driveway of our townhome. After looking at Yelp reviews and comparing vendors, I decided to try MPP as a first-time customer. Lots of pluses.
First, Kayla (receptionist) was friendly and professional during the intake call on Friday to assess the problem, ask for the location of the hornet's nest, and provide an estimated time window on the next business day (Monday). We requested a one-time service payment option by check. ...read moreOur family had a positive experience with My Pest Pros (MPP) in removing a large hornet's nest (soccer-ball size) from a tree just above the driveway of our townhome. After looking at Yelp reviews and comparing vendors, I decided to try MPP as a first-time customer. Lots of pluses.
First, Kayla (receptionist) was friendly and professional during the intake call on Friday to assess the problem, ask for the location of the hornet's nest, and provide an estimated time window on the next business day (Monday). We requested a one-time service payment option by check.
Second, the staff person (Hunter) arrived on time (8:30am) and called me 15 minutes in advance. He completed the job in about 40 minutes by spraying chemicals to reduce the number of live hornets, sawed off the entire branch of the crape myrtle tree, and then cleared the entire branch with the soccer-ball size hornet's nest attached.
Third, he explained we were lucky the hornets were not bald-faced hornets (which continue to attack you even after the nest is removed). Although it was $275 to complete the work, it was worth it to remove the hornet's nest and gain peace of mind. We would use their services again!read less
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