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Types of ticks in the Moscow region and not only: how to protect yourself from carriers of diseases and what to do with a bite

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Many species of ticks live in the forest, but not all of them are dangerous to humans: some of them feed on tree sap, saprophages and never attack people. However, there are varieties of insect carriers of serious diseases. The question of where you can meet dangerous parasites and whether forest mites live on trees becomes relevant at the beginning of the spring-summer season.

What does a forest tick look like

Most often, the body size of an arachnid does not exceed 3 mm., Females are noticeably longer than males. After drinking blood, the tick increases in size by 10-15 mm. Adults have 4 pairs of paws, on which claws and suckers are located. Ticks don't have wings and can't jump far. Parasites also lack eyes; they navigate in space with the help of special sensory organs.

Types of forest mites

Walking through the forest, you can meet different types of parasites. Each type of tick has its own color, body structure and lifestyle.

European wood tick

This type of arachnid is called "flying". The female can reach a size of 1 cm, males - no more than 0,5 cm. Most of the body has a reddish tint, the limbs are black. The body is protected by a chitinous shell. As food, parasites prefer the blood of large mammals.

Krasnotelki

These mites do not pose a danger to humans, they feed on plant foods, the remains of spiders and other insects. Red beetles got their name because of the color of the skin: it is red, with a velvety texture and many warts. The body size of such insects is 2-3 mm.

wood mite

This species is not found in our country, they live only in the United States and Canada. The parasite has a small size, up to 2-3 mm. The color of the body is brown, the body is covered with a silvery shield.

Where does the tick live

Various types of ticks live on the planet everywhere, they all have similar preferences: they love wet and dark areas of the terrain. Dangerous iscod ticks are most often found on overgrown paths, lawns, and ravines.

Currently, more and more bloodsuckers attack people in city parks, in green areas of courtyards, while cutting grass and lawns is not a guarantee that a tick will not settle on it.

There is a common misconception that ticks live on tree branches and jump down on their victims right from there. This is not so: ticks cannot jump, run fast, move long distances and fly.

Forest ticks.

Where do ticks hide in winter?

The tick's body has a special system of self-regulation, thanks to which it is able to fall into suspended animation when cold weather sets in - this is a kind of analogue of the hibernation of mammals. Insects without harm to the body can wait out the cold season and become more active with the onset of heat.

When the temperature drops to -10, all processes in the body of the arachnid slow down and the insect begins to look for shelter for wintering. As soon as a suitable place is found, the parasite stops moving and falls into suspended animation. Most often, bloodsuckers winter in the following places:

  • fallen leaves;
  • grass;
  • moss;
  • deposits of garbage;
  • forest floor;
  • space between tree roots.

If a tick got into the house, how long can it stay alive in the apartment

The apartment is an unfavorable condition for the life of the tick, so it falls into suspended animation - metabolic processes almost stop, the insect does not move. In this state, the tick can stay up to 8 years. When a victim appears, it quickly comes to life, gets drunk with blood and continues its normal life activity.

Ticks.

Features of character and lifestyle

Ticks begin to show activity in late March-early April (depending on the region). For them to wake up from hibernation, it is necessary that the soil warms up to a temperature of + 3-5 degrees, and the average daily temperature reaches +10 degrees.

 

Pests are active until August-September, until the ambient temperature drops to the same level.

The female tick lays eggs in early summer, for this she needs to be fed. Larvae emerge from the eggs, and if they manage to suck on the blood of the host in the near future, they move to the next stage of development in the same year.

The population and density of parasites directly depends on weather conditions: if the summer was cool, with a lot of precipitation, and the winter was warm and snowy, then the next year the population of parasites increases.

If the offspring remains hungry, then it falls into hibernation and continues its development in the next year. Having chosen a victim and moved to its body, the parasite does not immediately begin to suck its blood. Sometimes 12 hours pass from the moment of contact to the moment of suction.

On the human body, they are most attracted to areas with hairline, as well as areas behind the ears, elbows, and neck. Children are most often bitten in the head. The maximum duration of tick suction is 15 minutes. The saliva of the parasite contains an anesthetic substance, so its bite is invisible to the victim.

European mite.

Social Structure and Reproduction

Ticks are clearly divided into males and females. Features and method of reproduction depend on the species. Most of them are oviparous, and viviparous species are also known. The female is able to lay up to 17 thousand eggs.

For the fertilization of a female, a male is not necessary, but if reproduction occurs without his participation, only female larvae are born, and if a male participated, both female and male.

The male tick does not consciously choose the female, the individual that is located closest at the moment becomes the mating partner.

After mating, the male dies, but if there are other females nearby, he may have time to fertilize them as well. Pests have several stages of development:

Egg
During the warm season, the female lays eggs. A necessary condition is that she must be full. The average clutch is about 3 thousand eggs. Their shape is most often oval, sometimes round. The size of the egg in relation to the body of the female is quite large.
Larva
The larvae hatch after 2-3 weeks. Outwardly, it immediately looks like an adult, with the exception of the size and number of paws - the larva has 3 of them, not 4. In the warm season, they lead an active lifestyle, birds, small mammals, and rodents become their victims. Within 3-6 days, the parasite is saturated with blood, then molting occurs.
Nymph
The tick passes to this stage of development after the first good nutrition. The insect grows in size, it grows another pair of legs. It is easier for the nymph to move around, the insect becomes even more active, attacks larger animals. Most often, the nymph stage ticks survive the cold season.
Imago
A year later, another molt occurs and the insect moves to the last stage of development - an adult.

What does a tick eat

According to the type of food, insects are divided into two types:

  • saprophages;
  • predators.

Most representatives of the first group are recognized as beneficial to the environment. They eat organic remains, thus contributing to the development of humus. But in the group of saprophages there are also pests - insects that feed on plant sap.

Such parasites with their invasion can destroy a whole crop of agricultural crops. There are also dust and scabies mites - they do not attack people, they feed on particles of the epidermis, but still harm the human body, causing allergic reactions.

There is another type of saprophage - barn mites. They use the rotting remains of grain and flour for food.

Predators attack warm-blooded animals and humans, feed on their blood. The structure of the body of such insects allows them to firmly cling to the skin and hair of the victim, with the help of a developed oral apparatus, the predator pierces the skin and sucks out the blood.

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How does a tick understand that the victim is near the principle of hunting

Most ticks do not have eyes, so they cannot see the prey. But in their body there are special sensory organs, with the help of which the bloodsucker reacts to the heat of the approaching victim, her breath, smell.

Arachnids cannot hunt in the literal sense: they are not able to track down or catch up with the prey. Their strategy is to wait in the right place. The insect takes a comfortable position, for example, on a tall blade of grass, and waits with its front pair of paws forward.

As soon as a potential victim enters the field of view, the bloodsucker turns in its direction and begins to make movements with its front paws until contact with the victim occurs.

Various types of ticks.

How long does a forest mite live

The life expectancy of the parasite depends on climatic conditions and its habitat. In general, these insects are quite viable: under adverse conditions, they fall into anabiosis. A forest tick can live up to 7-8 years, but not every individual lives such a long life, because larger insects, birds, and a rodent feed on them in their natural habitat.

A pest can be destroyed by a person: by crushing or with the help of special means. The duration of different periods of the life of arachnids:

  • egg - from 2 weeks to 2 months;
  • larva and nymph - from a week to 1,5 months;
  • adult insect - 1-8 years.

Natural enemies of the tick

Insects are at the very end of the food chain, so they have many natural enemies. At the same time, one cannot fail to note their general significance for this chain: if parasites disappear, then many species of animals that feed on them will also disappear.

In their natural habitat, forest mites feed on:

  • birds (most often sparrows);
  • large insects (dragonflies, ground beetles, bugs, assholes);
  • large red forest ants;
  • amphibians (frogs, toads, lizards).
Birds eat ticks.

Are forests sprayed today for ticks?

This practice has not been used for a long time, so you need to protect yourself from parasites on your own. As practice shows, there are much more ticks in the forest zone than in other potentially dangerous places.

Fighting activities

Park areas are subjected to chemical insecticidal treatment during the season of bloodsucking activity. In addition, each owner, if desired, can carry out such processing of a summer cottage or personal plot. You can do this both independently with the help of store-bought drugs, and by inviting an SES employee.

Preventive measures

When preparing for a walk in potentially dangerous places, first of all, you need to pay attention to clothing. It should be closed: pants should be tucked into shoes, sleeves should fit snugly against the skin. It is advisable to use a hood.
The tick crawls from the bottom up, so it's best to tuck the sweater into your trousers. Every walk must end with a thorough inspection, special attention should be paid to the "favorite" areas of bloodsuckers: neck, head, elbows, areas behind the ears.

In addition, it is better to choose clothes in light colors - it is easier to notice the insect on it. Do not neglect special means for protection against parasites: they are available in a convenient form and are highly effective.

Tick ​​examples.

What danger do forest mites pose?

Despite its small size, the parasite poses a huge danger to animals and humans. Forest ticks are carriers of about 60 infectious diseases.

Tick ​​infections in animals

Not only humans, but also pets, including cats, dogs and horses, can suffer from the infection. Many diseases are treated, but there is a risk of complications and, in some cases, death. An animal can suffer not only from a bite, but also if it accidentally swallows an insect.

Diseases that an animal can become infected with:

  • piroplasmosis;
  • borreliosis;
  • bartonellosis;
  • hepatozoonosis;
  • erlichiosis.

What danger to humans are forest mites

The most dangerous disease for humans is tick-borne encephalitis. In an unfavorable course, the disease can cause severe neurological and mental disorders, as well as cause death. Bloodsuckers also carry other diseases:

  • borreliosis (Lyme disease);
  • tularemia;
  • babesiosis;
  • spotted fever;
  • relapsing fever.
A very dangerous bug.

What to do after a tick bite

If a parasite is found on the body, it is recommended to contact a medical institution: doctors will safely remove the bloodsucker and give recommendations on the prevention of infectious diseases.

How to pull out a tick

If there is no medical center nearby, the parasite must be removed by yourself. There are several ways to do this:

Hands
If there is no tool at hand, the bloodsucker will have to be removed with your fingers. First you need to wrap the thumb and index finger with gauze or any other cloth, the main thing is to minimize the contact of the insect with the skin. The parasite must be grasped as close to the skin as possible and turned several times in any direction, like a screw. It is important not to make sudden movements, not to crush the insect, to keep your hand perpendicular to the bite site.
Thread
Make a loop out of the thread and throw it on the tick, then tighten it so as not to crush the insect. Calmly and without sudden movements unscrew the bloodsucker. Usually 2-3 revolutions are enough for the parasite to come out with the proboscis.
Special Tools
Pharmacies sell special tools for removing ticks: tweezers, lasso. You need to purchase them in advance, while walking through the forest they can come in handy. The principle of operation of these tools is the same as improvised materials: the bloodsucker is captured at the bite site, and then gently twisted.

Where to take a tick for analysis

After removing the parasite, it must be placed in a container with a lid and sent for analysis to a specialized laboratory in order to detect its infection. It is desirable that it be alive, if the insect is dead, moistened cotton should be placed in the container. If the analysis reveals an infection, the patient will be given anti-tick immunoglobulin. It is necessary to enter the drug in the first 72 hours after the bite.

Disease symptoms

Signs of diseases resulting from a tick bite can be different. Often they do not occur immediately, each disease has its own incubation period.

Tick-borne encephalitis

It is considered the most severe viral disease carried by ticks. The virus infects the gray matter of the brain, causes severe fever, which leads to irreversible damage to the central nervous system. A severe form of the disease can cause mental retardation, paralysis and death. As such, there is no treatment; in case of infection, symptomatic therapy is carried out.

Symptoms of encephalitis include the following:

  • chills, fever;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • temperature rise up to 39 degrees;
  • muscle pain.

For some period, the listed symptoms may subside, but then return again.

Ticks cause dangerous diseases.

Relapsing fever

Another deadly disease, the source of which is a virus carried by ticks. The disease is characterized by alternating normal temperature and fever, impaired consciousness. Other signs of relapsing fever:

  • abdominal pain, vomiting;
  • muscle and joint pain;
  • sudden fever;
  • the formation of cherry-colored papules;
  • enlargement of the spleen and liver;
  • tachycardia.

As a rule, the above symptoms are observed within 3-6 days, after which they disappear, but then return again. That is why the disease is called relapsing. During the illness, up to 5 such cycles can pass. With proper therapy, a full recovery is possible.

A very dangerous bug.

Lyme disease

Symptoms of infection most often occur within 2-3 days after the bite. But infection can be suspected even earlier. As a rule, a red spot forms at the site of the bite, which increases in size over time and changes color in the center. The virus affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems, skin, joints. Symptoms of borreliosis include:

  • muscle and joint pain;
  • fatigue, headache;
  • fever.

At the initial stages, the disease is successfully treated, but if therapy is not started in a timely manner, the disease will go into a severe stage and damage to the nervous system will be irreversible.

Small but very dangerous.

Babesiosis

The course of the disease is most often severe, symptoms appear within 2 weeks after the bite. When the form is running, the destruction of red blood cells occurs, which leads to anemia, jaundice, and later to an increase in the liver, spleen and acute renal failure. Other manifestations of the disease:

  • muscle pain;
  • chills, fever;
  • loss of appetite, general weakness.
Dangerous insect.

Tularemia

Symptoms of tularemia appear as early as 2 hours after the bite. These include:

  • a sharp increase in temperature to 41 degrees;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • swollen lymph nodes;
  • purulent seals at the site of the bite.

The infection affects the lungs and mucous membranes, the course is usually severe. Treatment is possible only in a hospital setting.

Be afraid of this little one.

spotted fever

The disease got its name because of a specific symptom - the appearance of red or purple spots that appear first on the legs, and then spread throughout the body. In addition, the disease affects the blood vessels and causes kidney failure. Other clinical manifestations of spotted fever:

  • a sharp increase in temperature;
  • pain in the joints and muscles;
  • vomiting and nausea.
Ticks of the Moscow region.

animal diseases

Ticks are carriers of deadly infections for animals. The most common and severe of these are:

It is considered the most common disease. Initially, it manifests itself in the form of lethargy of the animal, its refusal to eat. Further, jaundice begins to progress, the color of the urine becomes dark brown. The internal organs cease to function normally, the animal loses its vitality.
The disease occurs when an animal has ingested the parasite. The body can cope with the virus itself if the animal has a strong immune system. The main symptoms of the developing disease are weakness in the limbs, discharge from the eyes, lethargy and apathy.
The virus infects red blood cells. The initial manifestations of infection include: weakness in the limbs, inflammation of the eyes, sudden weight loss. With the progression of the disease, hemorrhages in the eyes, bleeding from the nose, and pulmonary edema occur.
The first symptoms are noticeable 2-3 weeks after the bite: lethargy, lack of interest in the outside world, refusal to play, the animal prefers to sleep. Further, damage to the eyes, joints, blood vessels and bone marrow occurs.

All of these diseases have a poor prognosis. Only timely treatment can save the animal's life.

Prevention of tick-borne diseases

All diseases that bloodsuckers carry are characterized by a severe course and have dangerous complications. Therefore, it is much easier to carry out preventive measures in a timely manner, then deal with the consequences of infection.

Insecticide repellants

There are various preparations for protection against parasites. The principle of their action may be different: some repel insects by smell (repellent), others first paralyze and then kill them before they have time to stick (insecticidal).

Preparations are available in the form of sprays, aerosols, concentrates, ointments.

Bare skin is sprayed with repellents, tent clothes and other equipment are treated with insecticidal agents.

Almost all products are highly toxic, so they must be used in strict accordance with the instructions. To protect children, there are special preparations.

Little killers.

Acaricidal agents

Acaricidal drugs also kill ticks - they penetrate through the chitinous cover and affect the nervous and respiratory systems of the parasite. Unlike insecticides, which are used to control all kinds of insects, the action of acaricides is aimed at the destruction of representatives of arachnids, which include ticks. Acaricidal preparations are also highly toxic, when using them, it is necessary to follow the recommended safety measures.

Vaccination

Vaccination is a means of protection with proven effectiveness. However, there is a vaccine only for tick-borne encephalitis. Vaccinations with Russian drugs are allowed for children from 3 years of age, there are also foreign analogues that are allowed for children from 1 year old.

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