| - Facts and Information about Seed Ticks
- Learn about the subject of fleas and Seed Ticks
- Comprehensive article regarding Seed Ticks
- Discover facts about the flea season, the life cycle of a flea, flea bites and symptoms
- Protect your pets with treatment, medication and remedies for fleas on dogs, cats, rabbits, puppies & kittens
- Explanation of Seed Ticks
Seed Ticks - What Are They?
Seed tick is the name given to ticks when they are going through two of the immature stages of their lifecycle. The term does not refer to specific specie of tick. The tick has four lifecycles: egg, larva, nymph and adult. Seed ticks can be used as a description for both the larvae and the nymphs (as they look like little seeds). Once the female adult tick mates and deposits it’s eggs (in the thousands), the eggs hatch to six legged larvae (seed ticks) which then crawl and search nearby for smaller animals (hosts) to begin feeding on. Once the seed ticks have successfully had a blood meal, they fall off the host, moult and become nymphs (with eight legs). Once again, the nymphs then repeat the process of finding a host and feeding on their blood. They too fall off and moult and then emerge as adults. The adult finds a further host (or possibly the same one), feeds and once well fed, is ready to mate and produce eggs.
Seed Ticks - Normally In Large Numbers
Seed ticks are normally found in large numbers (hundreds if not thousands). Therefore if you or your pet have a seed tick on them, it is highly likely that there will be many more nearby. Conduct a thorough search, and immediate grooming and tick control methods should be considered. Ticks can carry infections and diseases from animal to animal and animal to human so preventing bites and infestations is very important. You do not want to risk any of your family or pets catching Lyme disease (which if not treated early enough could lead to meningitis, facial palsy, heart problems and arthritis). Nor do you want to have to treat them for Rocky Mountain spotted fever (typhus) or Colorado tick fever.
Seed Ticks - Removal
Not all ticks carry diseases or cause infection; however you do not want to risk the possibility so you should be eradicating seed ticks at the earliest opportunity. Removal of seed ticks should be a lot easier than adult ticks as they would not have formed the grips to attach themselves tightly to the skin. Removal of seed ticks should be conducted safely and with attention though as you do not want to burst them or cause any secondary infection to the area around the bite. If you are removing seed ticks, ensure that you clean the area afterwards with an antiseptic and wash your hands. Dispose of the seed ticks so they do not return! There are also tick removal devices that could help should you not want to use your fingers or tweezers. |
