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Ticks pose a danger to people and animals, causing many diseases and allergies. They can get into the house not only because of dirt, but also from the street, sticking to clothes and being carried home, they can also get through pets. Therefore, it is important to take precautions both before and after walks in the forest or clearing.
Ticks are able to survive in a variety of conditions, adapting to access to food, temperature, climate and other factors. They do not depend on regular access to food and can survive without water. The inhabitants of apartments and houses can be either permanent residents or random guests who enter the premises through people or animals.
Where do ticks live
Ticks belong to the class of arachnids and are found in huge numbers, numbering more than 40 species. They live all over the world. Among all species, blood-sucking ticks of the Ixodid or Argasidae family pose a particular threat to humans. They live in places with high humidity, most often on tall grass, in bushes in country houses, in forests, on river banks and in ravines. They can stay in apartments for a short time, usually several months, getting there on clothes or brought home by pets after a walk or in proximity to farms with animals.
What is the life expectancy of ticks
The lifespan of ticks depends on climatic conditions, temperature and humidity. These resilient creatures can live up to 10-12 years, plunging into suspended animation under unfavorable conditions. Typically, their average lifespan is about three years. They can stay on clothing, but only for a short time, as they require high humidity to attach to their prey. After a bite, ticks can remain on the body from several days to two weeks until they are saturated with blood and fall off. When they feed quietly, they can increase in size up to 120 times, storing up nutrients.
Life cycle of a tick
Ticks go through various stages of development. Males die after fertilization, but females continue to feed, as they need blood to produce eggs, which makes them the main carriers of infections. One female is capable of laying 1 to 2 thousand eggs before dying, and this usually occurs before the onset of cold weather.
Tick development stages include:
- A larva that increases in size 10 times within 2-8 days and moults into a nymph in 1-8 months. Tick larvae often feed on birds and rodents and have 3 pairs of legs.
— Nymph, the period of its transformation into an adult lasts from 1 to 7 months. Tick nymphs can be found on a variety of animals, including humans, and have 4 pairs of legs.
— An adult, represented by females and males. Females have larger bodies and feed on blood to produce eggs, while males seek out females to reproduce.
Life of ticks in different environmental conditions
The tick life cycle depends on a number of factors, including species, climate, temperature, air quality and access to food. Life expectancy can range from several months to several years depending on these conditions.
The main factors influencing the life expectancy of ticks:
— Species and habitat;
— Ambient temperature and humidity;
— Food availability and air quality.
For example, after being bitten, a tick can live from several days to a week, and adults can live up to five years. Ticks can also survive without air, but they prefer warm, moist areas in the home.
The life cycle of ticks in an apartment can be limited to eight months due to the unfavorable environment. When a tick is on a human body, it usually does not move for about half an hour, then fills with blood and can increase in size up to three centimeters.
Why are ticks dangerous?
This subclass of arachnids includes more than 50 thousand species, some of which can be dangerous to crops, spread infectious diseases and cause allergic reactions.
Household mites that are not blood-sucking can cause allergic reactions and upper respiratory tract problems such as angioedema and urticaria. Subcutaneous mites usually do not pose a danger to healthy people, however, with weakened immunity or poor personal hygiene, their activity can cause various dermatological problems.
Forest ticks can be carriers of dangerous infections such as encephalitis, borreliosis and yellow fever. They can also carry helminths, which are carried by ticks in the blood of infected animals.
To avoid being bitten by these dangerous bloodsuckers, it is important to regularly inspect your household, clothing and pets after visiting areas with long grass, such as parks and playgrounds.
How to fight ticks?
When encountering ticks at home, it is important to take the necessary measures. Especially in warm, humid environments, house mites can actively reproduce. To eliminate them, it is useful to ventilate the room and use dehumidifiers to reduce air humidity to 40%. Regular cleaning of floors and upholstered furniture and textiles will also help reduce the number of parasites.
To prevent favorable conditions for subcutaneous mites on the skin, it is important to maintain good hygiene, use soap and special products that reduce the secretion of sebum. Hosts may be attracted to ticks while searching for a mating partner, so it is important to take precautions.
Elimination of blood-sucking mites is possible using special tools such as loops, hooks or tweezers. It is important to remove the tick carefully and treat the bite site with an antiseptic. To prevent possible infections, it is necessary to visit a doctor after removing the tick and undergo appropriate blood tests.
Frequently asked Questions:
Where can ticks appear in the house?
Mites can live in a variety of places in the home, including bedding, plants, closet shelves, and kitchen cabinets. When first detected, it is recommended to contact a specialized service for professional treatment of the premises.
Where can ticks come from?
Ticks can enter the home on clothing from the street or through pets. They can also move to the balcony from tree branches or from other rooms. Due to their ability to survive without food for long periods of time, their exact location may be unclear.
What to do if a tick is found?
If a tick is found, it is recommended to contact a medical facility for its safe removal. After this, it is necessary to inspect the apartment and clothing for the presence of other ticks, as well as clean the room and ventilate it.
How long can a tick live on a person?
Ticks that fall on a person usually live from several hours to a couple of days. They begin to feed on blood after a short period of rest on the skin. In the event of a bite, it is important to carry out safe removal and treat the bite site with an antiseptic.
