Don't Be A Tick Magnet
Author: Paula Jackson Jones
Published: 05/20/2017
‘Tis
the season for ticks and conversations about ticks and hosting year-round,
weekly Lyme Disease Awareness events gives me opportunity to have many
interesting conversations.
With
the projected elevated levels of tick infestation that we are told to prepare
for, doing nothing in the way of prevention is not really an effective option.
Many times, I hear “my husband is a tick magnet” which upon further
questioning, equates to they do not use repellent or any preventative practices
or we discover that people are using repellents incorrectly.
That’s right ~ it is possible to use
repellents incorrectly!
Why is
it so important to get it right?
Ticks go through four life stages: egg,
six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult. After hatching from the eggs,
ticks must eat blood at every stage to survive. Ticks that require this many
hosts can take up to 3 years to complete their full life cycle, and most will
die because they don’t find a host for their next feeding.
So how do ticks find their
hosts? Ticks find their hosts by detecting animals´ breath and body odors, or
by sensing body heat, moisture, and vibrations.
No
matter your preference for repellent, you must apply at recommended intervals
and to all exposed skin areas. I would even take it a step further an apply to
areas that we know ticks like to go to (armpits, groin area, scalp line and
behind the knees).
Applying
repellent as directed is one step in the battle against tick encounters. The other is applying it to the areas its
meant for. Repellent is meant to bond
with your skin and form a barrier.
Repellent containing Deet, when applied to certain fabrics (plastic,
rayon, nylon), can eat the fabric. I was told recently of how a woman applied
repellent containing Deet behind her ears and she got it on the plastic of her
sunglasses ~ and it ate the plastic!
Permethrin
was designed to be applied to your outer clothing and outer gear (not your
skin). It is a toxic nerve agent that kills ticks on contact. Permethrin, not
to be confused with Pyrethrin (a chemical used in pest control management for
lawns), binds with the fabric and forms a bond that only denigrates in the wash
after 7-10 washes.
Ticks
rely on animals and humans for their blood meals but by practicing correct
prevention methods as directed and on a regular basis, we can block the scents,
interrupt their feeding cycle and do our part to reduce their life span.
~ Paula
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