Mosquito and tick season is well on its way, as well as the wave of tick and mosquito borne illnesses. You don’t want these pesky critters at the family bbq. These pests could infect your family, and stick around on your property all summer long. Ticks hide on tree branches and in bushes. Mosquitoes wait in grass, under leaves, and other areas for the cooler temperatures. But why does it matter? So you can know how to avoid their bite. Another thing that can help is mosquito and tick prevention treatments for your property. First let’s learn about these pests and their behaviors.

Tick Behavior

Ticks carry a multitude of diseases, which can be spread to humans and animals. Ticks spread diseases through a process called feeding. Ticks latch onto a host, and feed on blood. Ticks can’t jump or fly, so they wait on leaves and branches for a host to pass by and hitch a ride. Once on a host, they bury their heads into skin, and feed. Depending on the tick species and its stage in life, feeding can take from 10 minutes to 2 hours. When the tick inserts its feeding tube, it secretes a cement-like substance that keeps them firmly attached during feeding. This is why when you remove a tick, it is important to grab the head and not the body. Even without the body attached, the head can still feed.

Tick transmitted diseases

LYME DISEASE

Lyme disease is caused by borrelia burgdorferi, which is a bacteria that aids Lyme disease in humans. Lyme disease is the most common tick spread disease. Lyme disease usually causes symptoms such as a bullseye rash, fever, headache, and fatigue. If it is not treated early, the infection can spread to your joints, heart, and nervous system.

ANAPLASMOSIS

Anaplasmosis is another bacteria that is injected into the bloodstream after a tick bite. Early signs of the illness happen within the first 1-5 days of being bitten. Fever, chills, severe headache, muscles aches, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea, are the starting symptoms of the disease. If treatment is delayed, severe illness can follow. Symptoms can include; respiratory problems, organ failure, bleeding problems, and it can lead to death.

BABESIOSIS

Although a very rare disease, Babesoisis is an infection that occurs in the blood. Up to 20 percent of patients diagnosed with babesoisos also have lyme disease. Symptoms start at 1-8 weeks after you come in contact with the parasite that causes the disease. But, some people don’t experience symptoms. Symptoms include; body aches, chills, fatigue, fever, headache, loss of appetite, and sweating. Like most tick borne diseases, it is treated with an antibiotic.

EHRLICHIOSIS

Ehrlichiosis is another bacterial infection. Symptoms can start within the first 1-2 weeks of being bitten. The early signs are usually mild to moderate. Fever, chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, confusion, and rash. 1-3 people with ehrlichiosis report a rash. The rash is far more common in children, but adults still may experience it. If you wait to get treatment, the illness can cause damage to the brain, nervous system, respiratory failure, uncontrolled bleeding, organ failure, and death.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER

Early signs and symptoms are not specific to RMSF, but it is important to pay attention to your symptoms and go to your doctor after being bit by a tick. RMSF is a rapidly progressing disease which can be life threatening. Symptoms include fever, headache, rash, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, muscle pain, lack of appetite. Rash is a common sign for RMSF. Rash unusually develops 2-4 days after the fever begins. While almost all patients with RMSF will develop a rash, in some cases, it doesn’t appear early in illness, which can make RMSF difficult to diagnose. Even after treatment, RMSF can still cause problems. Some have lost arms, legs, fingers, toes, and hearing.

Mosquito Behavior

Mosquitoes pass diseases through their bites. They first inject their anticoagulant saliva that stops your blood from clotting, which causes the inflammation and pain when other pests bite. They then swap another meal of blood for yours, and inject it into your bloodstream. Mosquitoes will fly off, and sit in a dark area to develop eggs.

Mosquitoes carry

ZIKA VIRUS

Zika virus is a virus which is transmitted by mosquitoes. It can cause major birth defects, and can cause nervous system and brain complications. It can also cause joint issues, and eye damage. Symptoms are generally mild. Fever, rash, muscle and joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane in the eye. It turns red, and often is followed by crust on the eyelashes in the middle of the night. If it is not treated it can cause major infection within the eye and even vision loss.

WEST NILE VIRUS

WNV is a somewhat unique virus. Most people experience no symptoms. 8 out of 10 infected with West Nile Virus, didn’t develop or experience any symptoms. In severe cases, WNV infects both neurons and glial cells. The infection with these cells can cause a “neuronal death”. Meaning these cells release a natural neurotoxin. About 1 out of 5 people infected develop fever, with other symptoms. It is rarely just a fever. Body aches, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Most people infected recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last weeks or months.

CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS

This infection focuses more on the joints within the body. Those who are infected major joint pain, and continue to experience it months to years after recovering. The joint pain can be disabling. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash. Death is very rare, and usually occurs when someone with a weak immune system is infected. After someone has been infected with the virus, it is rare to be infected again.

MALARIA

Malaria is one of the more well known mosquito spread diseases. The parasite is spread through mosquito bites, and enters the bloodstream. The parasite multiplies in the liver cells, and then releases back to the red blood cells. It destroys red blood cells by destroying the cell structure, and then prevents the body from creating more blood cells. Symptoms include, fever, flu-like illness (Such as shaking, chills, headaches, muscle aches, and tiredness), nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Malaria can also cause anemia and jaundice. Both are due to the loss of red blood cells.

What attracts each pest?

Mosquitoes

What you wear

Mosquitoes like dark and bold colors. Such as red, black, navy, blue, and any floral patterns. They are also attracted by exposed skin, so be sure to wear loose long sleeves, pants, and hats. Be sure to dress in light neutral colors so as to not attract them to your clothing.

How you smell

Mosquitoes are drawn to floral scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes, and lotions. They are also drawn to smelly feet, socks, and sweat. Sweat is made up of chemicals, and it attracts mosquitoes to you. Repellents containing DEET will keep the blood suckers off of you.

Your genetics and blood type

Genetics and blood type may play a role in getting bitten. Studies have found if you have type O blood, mosquitoes are more drawn to you.

Ticks

Blood type

Ticks have favorite blood types, and prefer certain types over others. Their favorite type is A, then O, Then type AB. B is their least favorite.

Sweat and Co2

Just like mosquitoes, ticks are able to track you via the Co2 you breathe out. They are also attracted to the chemical composition made up in sweat. They like our body heat as well. Unfortunately we are unable to stop breathing and sweating, so when in the great outdoors, it is important to check for ticks.

Clothing

Unlike mosquitoes, ticks like bright colors. So if you are trying to avoid ticks, wear dark clothing. Make sure your clothing is loose, and not skin tight. Ticks are able to bite through tight clothing and pass diseases.