Winter/Spring 2019
TickSmart Newsletter
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A belated, but nevertheless, happy 2019 from TickEncounter!
Each year as we renew our resolution to help you and your family become TickSmart-er in the year to come we also are mindful that needs as well as information change. But the basics are still the basics, and TickSpotters data shows there’s still a great need to help people learn how to better identify ticks so they can be prepared with knowing likely disease risk of every tick encounter. It also seems that people could benefit from a nudge or two when it comes personal tick protection like treating your typical hiking or gardening clothes with permethrin in time for spring outdoor activity.
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- Tick Forecast
- Tick FAQ Highlight
- Choosing Effective Tick Control Products
- Research Review – How do wildfires affect ticks?
- TickSmart Products and Services
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Join us in the commitment to being TickSafe this year while you enjoy this season’s newsletter offerings.
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Current
Right: Adult female blacklegged tick (
Ixodes scapularis
) crawls on a human host. Photo credit: B. Mullen
The winter weather this year, at least for us here in Southern New England, is a bit unusual. The temperatures have been warmer and there has been quite a lot of rain. Elsewhere, like Seattle and Las Vegas, are seeing rare snows. These weather oddities may have people encountering the winter season a little differently than usual. So for those of you who’ve had a milder winter and are spending more time outdoors, it’s important to remember that
blacklegged ticks
ARE active in the winter, but only when the temperatures are above freezing and there isn’t a layer of snow on the ground covering them. But don’t forget – they’re simply incapacitated,
NOT
dead. Check out our
Polar Vorticks experiment
to see what we mean! The key to reactivating these ticks is several consecutive days of non-freezing temperatures and a lack of snow cover.
However, blacklegged ticks aren’t the only ticks to watch out for.
Brown dog ticks
are adapted as sub-tropical ticks but can be active all year, inside and outside in sub-tropical climates (think Florida) but inside year-round anywhere. These ticks can pose a major problem. In addition to quickly infesting homes, they can carry spotted fever group rickettsia, including the germ causing Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
(Rickettsia rickettsii
), and are capable of infecting dogs and (more rarely) humans.
Eradicating brown dog ticks
is difficult and costly, and it’s definitely worth taking the extra time to check your dog after it has been at a kennel, shelter, or any facility where dogs are kept in close quarters.
Another risk at this time of year is the possibility of moving brown dog ticks from warmer wintertime locations back to more permanent northern residences. Snowbirds that escape the coldest parts of winter in milder locations in Arizona, southern Florida and Texas in particular risk bringing brown dog ticks back home to the more northerly tier of states.
The point is you should remain vigilant for ticks throughout the cold months. We’ve been receiving many
TickSpotters
reports of several day-fed blacklegged ticks found on people and pets from both east and west coasts – an indication that ticks are still active and prevention measures are not being taken. By the way, on the west coast, you’re seeing BOTH nymphs and adult
western blacklegged ticks
right now (Jan-Apr.), while elsewhere in the country there are only adult deer ticks. Continue performing tick checks on people and pets after time outdoors, and definitely continue treating your pet with
tick preventative
each month!
Below: Dr. Tom Mather demonstrating that freezing temperatures don't kill ticks.
Photo credit: B. Mullen
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Looking Ahead
Now is the time to begin preparing for how you will protect you and your family against ticks as they begin to emerge when temperature rise. Adult blacklegged, Lone Star and American dog ticks all become active in March and April; the latter two types of ticks continue their activity into the summer with adult blacklegged ticks remaining on the scene only through May. Could you tell each of these types of tick apart? What about an adult from a nymph or larvae? Identification is important because each type carries its own chance of causing disease. Take the time now to make sure you
know the ticks
found in your region and
know when they’re active
.
In addition to daily tick checks, consider stepping up your TickSmart™ actions by looking into treating outdoor clothing and shoes with
permethrin
. This is the best and most effective way to ward off ticks and diseases they’re carrying by simply getting dressed. Learn more
here
. You also can prevent tick encounters at home by making a plan for a
TickSafe yard
. Consider tactics like perimeter spray treatments, placing mouse-targeted devices, or simply keeping shrubs and grasses trimmed, deer fences in place, and wood piles cleared to make your yard unattractive to ticks and the wildlife that carry them. Check out our diagram for a
TickSmart™ backyard
.
Click
here
for more TickSmart™ ideas to stay tick safe. If you do have a tick encounter, make sure to save the tick, snap a picture, and send it to our
TickSpotters program
for identification and risk assessment.
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Choosing effective tick control: What you need to know about repellents and yard protection.
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While preparing for outdoor time this spring and summer, do you find your eyes glazing over just a little bit when looking at store shelves full of insect repellent? The choices seem endless. Perhaps you want something long-lasting, but want to avoid a DEET-based product. Natural seems good, but will that “all natural” spray really do the trick? And what about your yard? Maybe you’ve heard some or even a lot about tick sprays but still aren’t sure which will be the most effective and safest for your family.
We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide on the major available products to help you make the decisions that are right for you.
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How do skin and clothing repellents work against ticks?
While some ticks have a limited ability to detect light, these pests predominantly find you by sensing heat and smell using structures located on their front two legs, called Haller’s organ. Most bug sprays work to deter these pests from biting by blocking their ability to smell you (repellents), and some actually kill ticks if they get too close or touch the product (toxicants).
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A note about synthetics and EPA registration
A synthetic repellent product is simply one that was formulated from its original source (very often plant-based botanical compound that plants use as their own “insecticide”) so that it lasts longer when applied as a repellent on skin/clothing.
For example, permethrin is a synthetic form of a natural insecticide found in a type of chrysanthemum flower. In its natural form, the chemical breaks down very quickly after being exposed to sunlight or when it comes into contact with soil; it may be incredibly non-toxic as a tick repellent for use on humans and most other mammals (cats being the exception), but its synthetic formulation is needed to ensure it doesn’t quickly stop working when exposed to sunlight.
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Classifications of insect repellents
EPA-registered
– t
he product and active ingredient have been evaluated for human safety and effectiveness, and determined to be safe for use when used according to the product label.
Unregistered/Minimum risk
– based on previous studies, the active ingredient in the product has been deemed a minimal risk to human health, and exempted from needing EPA registration. However, this also means that the repellent product has likely
NOT
been tested by tick scientists to determine if it actually works to repel ticks or mosquitoes.
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A rule of thumb
Generally, the higher the active ingredient percentage, the longer the duration of repellency – but usually not by much
. For example, a 10% DEET product will provide roughly two hours of repellency, while a 24% product will provide an average of five hours of protection. Studies demonstrate that DEET concentrations higher than 50% offer no additional protection.
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Combination sun-screen/bug repellents
While combining a sunscreen and bug repellent into a single cream or spray may seem like a major convenience, the
CDC recommend against using these products
. Sunscreens need to be reapplied liberally and often (roughly every two hours), which could result in an overexposure to the insect repellent. Most repellents should only be reapplied at least every 2-8 hours depending on the product. Some studies have actually shown that DEET can decrease sunscreen protection by a third.
How to properly apply sunscreen and insect repellent:
- Apply sunscreen first and allow it to dry. Reapply after swimming, heavy sweating, or every two hours (whichever comes first)
- Apply insect repellent after sunscreen, according to label instructions.
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EPA-registered Repellents
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DEET
– considered the gold standard of insect repellents, DEET has been available on the market since 1957, and is the most widely used repellent because it’s effective against several species of biting flies like mosquitoes and blackflies. However, as far as a tick repellent, it is considerably less effective. For example, in field trials, a 33% formulation of DEET lotion applied to military uniforms was only 19.1% effective at repelling nymphal blacklegged ticks, and only 50% effective against adult American dog ticks and lone star ticks. It’s more effective at repelling larval ticks, but this is not the stage that generally carries disease. Do not use higher than 30% DEET on children, and do not use DEET on children under two months old.
LIPODEET
– a newer long-lasting formulation of DEET developed in the 90s prevents DEET molecules from being as easily absorbed by the skin (absorbed at 10x lower rate than regular DEET). In lab studies, a single application of a 20% LIPODEET product resulted in nearly 10x fewer ticks attached at 24 hours, and was also effective at reducing American dog tick attachment. While DEET is an excellent mosquito repellent, LIPODEET appears to be a superior product because it is highly effective at repelling ticks as well.
Permethrin –
a synthetic fabric and clothing treatment derived from a natural insecticide in chrysanthemum flowers that is highly effective at killings ticks on contact, but demonstrates much less repellent activity than DEET or picaridin. Studies found that clothing treated 0.5% permethrin provided 100% protection against all stages of deer tick, and both adult and nymphal American dog ticks, and lone star ticks. True repellency wears off quickly, but fabric treated with permethrin will kill ticks on contact for weeks, even after several launderings. Permethrin products should not be applied to skin because they are not effective unless on fabric, and can cause skin irritation before drying. Cats are particularly sensitive to this repellent so do not spray around cats or let them touch clothing before it has dried.
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Curious about which products might work best for you and your family?
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Piperidines –
a synthetic natural insecticide derived from pepper plants that is more effective against lone star ticks than DEET (greater than 90% effective after 5 hours, versus less than 60% effective), however, it is less repellent than DEET against blacklegged ticks. A specific formulation called SS220 or Morpel 220 used at a 20% concentration was found in several studies to provide excellent protection against American dog ticks, lone star ticks, and blacklegged ticks. However, a higher concentration to best protect against blacklegged ticks is likely necessary.
Picaridin –
a specific type of piperidine developed in 2005 that demonstrates very low toxicity and does not trigger skin sensitivity. It appears to be effective against nymphal lone star ticks and a 20% cream product was found in one field study to provide 100% repellency for 12 hours.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD)
– a synthetic formulation of the essential oil from leaves of the Australian lemon-scented gum tree. Depending on the product, this repellent appears to prevent tick attachment but does not prevent loose and wandering ticks from crawling on a treated person. However, true repellency is higher in products that contain a mixture of both the synthetic version (PMD) and the pure essential oil (e.g. MyggA). This product is not recommended to be used on children under the age of three due to potential skin and lung irritation.
IR3535 –
a biopesticide similar to a naturally-occurring amino acid insecticide contact repellent that is available as lotion, aerosol, and pump formulations. It is on average more effective against blacklegged ticks than DEET or PMD. Studies found blacklegged tick repellency ranging from 9-12 hours at 10-20% concentration, however it appears that IR3535 works only as a contact repellent meaning that ticks would have to touch a treated body part to be repelled.
BioUD
–
a bio-pesticide derived from a natural insecticide found in leaves of wild tomato plants,
and is rated the lowest toxicity level by the EPA. Most tests of this repellent are lab-based so its effectiveness in the field has yet to be determined. However, on treated filter paper and cheesecloth, BioUD was comparable to nearly 100% DEET against American dog ticks and lone star ticks, and demonstrated 2.5 hours of protection against American dog ticks when applied to skin; it was significantly more repellent than PMD.
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Unregistered/Minimum Risk
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Essential oils not formulated into repellents –
Pure essential oils (e.g. rosemary, tea tree, citronella, lemon oil, and eucalyptus oil) are not recommended for use as repellents because they quickly evaporate – leaving you defenseless – and can cause significant skin, eye, and lung irritation. If you prefer an essential oil repellent product, we recommend one that has been properly formulated into an EPA-registered repellent to ensure proper safety and effectiveness (e.g. oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD)).
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the combination and use of several methods to reduce pest populations. Studies have shown that tick numbers have been most greatly reduced in residential habitats using a combination of integrated strategies when compared to each method alone. For ticks this involves selecting landscape practices aimed at reducing tick and their host animal habitats close to the home, management or treatment of host animals, and targeted application of tick killing pesticides to high risk tick habitat.
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The goal is to eliminate and reduce habitat where ticks and their hosts can live around your home. Check out our
“Tick Safe” yard web page
for a visual illustration. This can be done by following these recommendations:
- Keep grass mowed
- Place a physical barrier (e.g. fence, stones, woodchips) around portions of yard used most by family
- Remove leaf litter, weeds, and shrubs from edge of lawn
- Place firewood piles and bird feeders away from house
- Move children's playsets and sandboxes away from edge of lawn (3 yards)
- Trim branches on edge of lawn to allow more sunlight
- Use hardscape landscaping, including pavers, slate, gravel, or brick, instead of groundcover plants in frequently used areas immediately around house
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Management or Treatment of Host Animals
- Deer fencing
- Tick tubes (active ingredient permethrin), e.g. Damminix Tick Tubes; Thermacell Tick Control Tubes
- Bait boxes (active ingredient fipronil), e.g. SELECT Tick Control System (TCS)
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We recommend that you use
a licensed commercial applicator
(preferably one that is TickSmart certified!) to spray lawn and woodland edges and perimeters.
Tick sprays in the northeast region of the US should focus on control of the nymph stage deer tick (tick responsible for most cases of Lyme disease) accomplished by one spray in May or early June. One spray in October can be appropriate to control adults.
Below is a table of effective products which are and commonly used to control ticks in residential environments.
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Common commercially available yard tick treatments
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Tips for DIY yard sprays:
- Read all instructions on label it is a violation of federal law to use a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with the label instructions. This will also give you an idea of how to use, mix, and handle the product.
- For tick control, use a product that is specifically labeled for controlling ticks.
- Avoid over spraying by targeting tick habitat only.
- A well timed spray (mid May or early June) will be most effective towards controlling disease carrying ticks in the Northeast.
- Avoid vegetable, herb, and flower gardens
- Always keep in original container and do not save diluted sprays.
- Store pesticides in a cool, dry, and safe place away from the reach of children.
- Dispose of leftover product through your local community household hazardous waste program -- never pour outside or down a toilet/drain.
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Written by Heather Kopsco and Steven Engborg
References:
Bissinger BW & Roe RM. 2010. Tick repellents: Past, present, and future.
Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
. 96:63-79.
Piesman J. 2006. Strategies for reducing the risk of Lyme borreliosis in North America
. International Journal of Medical Microbiology.
296: Suppl. 117–22.
Stafford III KC. 2004. Tick management handbook Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. New Haven, CT.
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Answering questions about your tick encounters
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Question:
"We found ticks in our home after a friend’s dog was visiting. We believe we got them all but are concerned about them laying eggs. How long can a tick live in a home if it is in the furniture, rugs etc.?"
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TERC Answer:
Unlike some other tick species,
blacklegged (deer) ticks
(
Ixodes scapularis
) are particularly susceptible to desiccation, or drying out. They can only survive short periods in places where the atmospheric moisture content (relative humidity) is less than say 82%. In one experiment, most of the nymphal deer ticks exposed to 75% humidity for 8 hours died, even after being returned to 96% humidity. In a typical house environment, unfed deer ticks are not likely to survive even 24 hours. Ticks on moist clothing in a hamper can survive 2-3 days. Ticks that have taken a blood meal may survive a bit longer but certainly not the 30+ days it takes to mature and bite again or lay eggs.
However,
brown dog ticks
thrive in indoor environments, and can survive without a host for up to 18 months in ideal conditions. While they prefer to feed on dogs, they will feed on other mammals, and occasionally humans. Male brown dog ticks only feed for short periods of time to mature their sperm before moving around in search of a female to mate with. Female brown dog ticks feed for about a week before becoming engorged. After digesting the blood meal, female brown dog ticks can lay up to 4,000 eggs. The eggs are often laid on top of kennels, on ledges, or in cracks and crevices in or around a house. We had one TickSpotter that found brown dog ticks in a bowling ball bag on a shelf in a closet. Larvae hatch from eggs in 2 to 5 weeks. Controlling brown dog tick infestations can be difficult and usually requires a four step process: treating the pets, treating the house with an effective pyrethroid product, treating the yard, and sanitizing the house by focusing on vacuuming. This process may take several treatments and take several months to eradicate the infestation.
It is critical to know which type of tick ended up in your house.
If you find ticks in your home, be sure to snap a picture to send to our
TickSpotters
program, and toss the tick into an airtight container in the freezer for potential future testing (or additional photos if necessary).
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Check out our TickSmart
products
to find tick identification magnets, tick check reminder shower cards, and other items designed to help you protect you and your family from tick bites.
You can now order TickSmart products directly online!
Visit our virtual store
here
.
In what ways are you using these products to educate and empower your community to be tick safe? Let us know! Post to our Facebook or tweet at us with a picture and post with the hashtag
#WeAreTickSmart
. Let’s get a trend going – online and in real life.
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