Ticks cause a range of health problems, including Lyme disease, so tick control is essential for your home. Unfortunately, these critters are still present in nature even when you have your yard sprayed. If you spot a bug on your body, remove it carefully using this guide.

What Ticks Look Like

Ticks are arachnids, which means they’re similar to spiders and mites. Adults resemble tiny spiders and have eight legs. Larvae-stage ticks have six legs and range in size from 1 millimeter to 1 centimeter.

You probably won’t feel any pain from a bite, so inspect your body for ticks after an outing. These critters burrow their heads into the skin to suck blood, so the area around the mark might be inflamed and red. Bites are not filled with fluid, and typically occur around the groin, neck, scalp, and legs.

How to Remove Them

Use tweezers to try to remove the tick in one piece, grabbing as close to the surface of your skin as possible. Pull upwards in a straight, continuous motion without twisting or jerking, which reduces the chance of leaving any part of the bug in the skin. If some parts remain embedded, leave the area alone to heal naturally. After removal, clean the site with antiseptic or soap and water. See a doctor if you develop any symptoms, including rashes and fever.

To avoid future bites, wear socks, shoes, pants, and long-sleeved tops to cover as much skin as you can when going to areas with dense vegetation or tall grass. Apply repellent containing diethyltoluamide (DEET) or picaridin to ward off ticks when spending time outdoors.

Clear leaves and other tree debris from your yard regularly, as ticks thrive under foliage. If you were bitten at home, call a tick control professional to have your yard sprayed. 

If you need tick control, turn to Cape Cod Mosquito Squad in Wellfleet, MA. They carry all-natural treatments to keep bugs away from your property. Their products are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and applied by highly trained technicians according to label guidelines. Call (508) 918-9700 to get a free quote, or visit their website to learn more about ticks.