All about ticks in New Jersey

In the ghostly fog of a New Jersey summer night, the thunder rolls in the distance. The full moon is a cyclops in the darkened sky. While you are sleeping, a vampire may be lurking near your skin, ready for a nocturnal sip of blood.

Of course, vampires only live-in legends, and the Garden City is thousands of miles from the land of the infamous tale. However, you cope with real-life vampires from the arachnid world. Shockingly enough, like vampires, ticks also hate garlic.

Source: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

What is a Tick? 

As soon as you hear the word “tick,” your skin crawls, and you think they are the most disgusting bugs in the world. While they are pretty gross, ticks are not insects. They have eight legs and are related to spiders and crayfish.

These tiny bloodsuckers feast on the blood of their animal and human hosts until they are bloated. Unlike mosquitoes, ticks like to bite and hang out, ensuring they get every last drop of your blood they can squeeze into their minute body. They can cause anemia, infection at the site of the bite, and deadly diseases, but this can all take place before you even know they’ve attached to your skin.

There are around 900 species of these pests in the world. They are categorized as either soft or hard varieties, and both types are found in the United States. Thankfully, only a handful of these is known to bite and potentially infect people. Most of them won’t come near you, but the few that do can cause serious issues. 

Ticks may vary a bit according to species, but the variation is not that much. Although these creatures are arachnids, their bodies aren’t segmented like the spider. Ticks have a head and a flattened abdomen that expands as they drink blood. An exoskeleton covers their soft body for protection. Adult tick size varies by species, but some can be up to one-eighth of an inch in length. 

Extending from their head are the mouthpieces. Part of the mouth pierces the host’s skin while another part sucks the blood. They have two simple eyes, one on each side of their head. These eyes can detect color, light, movement, and basic shapes.

When ticks mature into adulthood, they have four spiny legs, each with a small claw on the end. They use the spines and claws to cling onto vegetation and quickly hitch a ride on an unsuspecting host.

Hard and soft ticks have different body types, but they also have different behaviors. Their mannerisms are responsible for how they connect with their hosts. Both types are common in New Jersey and across America:

Hard Ticks

The vampires of nightmares and legends stalk their human prey in the shadows of night. Hard-shell ticks are real live bloodsuckers who just hang out on weeds and leaves. They can sense body heat, movement, color, and even the carbon dioxide animals and humans exhale. At the opportune moment, they extend their tiny claws out to grab hold of you while you wander around outside.

Afterward, these disgusting stowaways find a place of exposed skin and bite in for a little bloody sip. Even the hard tick larvae feed on blood, but they usually stay around the ankles and calves. Adults take the high road and set up camp around the neck, scalp, armpit, or groin. Their gruesome binge can last for days. They will feed until they become so bloated that they can barely move. 

Soft Ticks

Their soft, spongy body identifies these types. Since their bodies are softer and more danger-prone, they don’t hide out in the open like their armored cousins. Instead, they prefer the cozy hiding places in nests and burrows. If they are carried into your home, soft ticks will lounge secretly in cozy blanket folds or soft pet bedding.

Hard ticks aren’t picky about when they bite into their hosts. However, soft ticks wait until dark for their nefarious feedings. Adults establish nests in the hosts’ bedding and will lay their eggs in them. They and their young will feed on the same area for ju
st a few minutes, then go back into hiding. Although they don’t stay attached as hard ticks do, soft-bodied ticks still can carry deadly diseases that can be extremely dangerous to humans.

The Life Cycle

The life span of most species can last up to three years, depending on finding hosts for feeding. If they don’t drink enough blood during each stage, the tick will die. However, some species will go into a dormancy between stages.

• Egg

As if getting bit by a tick wasn’t repulsive enough, males and females also mate while on their host. Most ticks mate and lay eggs in the spring. When the female has mated and is bloated with enough blood, she will leave the host to find a secluded spot for laying her eggs. Females can lay between 1,500 to 5,000 eggs in her lifetime. The life’s goal of both the male and female ticks is to produce offspring, and once they fulfill that purpose, they perish. 

• Larvae

After a few months in their singular nest, the eggs hatch into larvae that are barely visible to the naked eye. In this stage, the tick only has six legs. The newly hatched larvae must find a host for blood so they can mature.

• Nymph

Depending on the species, the molting change between larvae and nymphs can be up to three months or more. The growing larvae will become a nymph with eight legs.

• Adult

Nymphs will also drink blood from their hosts and take several months to molt into a mature adult. Then, the cycle starts again. While the whole process may take up to three years for some tick species, adults don’t live long after feeding and mating.

Identifying Common Tick Species

Whether you live in a suburban or rural area of the Garden State, ticks are a serious threat to pets and humans. Both soft and hard-bodied ticks can hide in any vegetation or your bedding. Here are some common bloodsuckers and how you can identify them:

• American Dog Ticks

Source: University of New Hampshire

Sure, this species adores dogs, but they will also enjoy the taste you or any other animal provide. They have a dark, mottled brown color, and the females are noted by a cream-colored marking shaped like a horseshoe. American dog ticks are notorious for spreading Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other hazardous microbes.

• Deer Tick

You can quickly identify this fiendish pest by its copper-colored body, black shield, and spiny black legs. This species is particularly dangerous because it can harbor microbes that cause Lyme disease in humans and animals. Lyme disease causes fever and other painful symptoms. If left untreated, it can lead to severe problems in your joints and heart.

• Groundhog Tick

If you see a tick that’s almost a transparent blond color, it’s probably a groundhog tick. They love to feed on woodland creatures and the occasional pet or human. Blondes may have more fun, but not this dangerous one. Groundhog ticks often harbor the Powassan virus, which can cause severe brain issues like encephalitis and meningitis. Although Powassan virus disease is rare, at least ten percent of the cases are fatal.

These are just a few of the ticks roaming around New Jersey and the rest of the United States. If there is anything good to be said of ticks, they are savory snacks to many birds and other predators.

Tick Prevention

Tick removal using Spoon
Source: University of Maine

The best way to protect your family and pets from ticks is to know their habits and territory. Wear light-colored clothing and tuck your pant legs into your socks. Avoid heavy brush and look carefully for ticks after you and your pets have been outside. Talk to your vet about a tick treatment that’s best for your pets.

Remove any attached ticks carefully with fine-tipped tweezers, being sure to remove the whole head. Wipe the bite area well with soap and water. Drop the offending bloodsucker in the toilet and flush. This summer, keep your family and beloved pets safe and keep ticks at bay. These pests can multiply quickly, especially in wooded areas. If your yard has an infestation, a New Jersey exterminator is your best bet. 

Having your yard sprayed brings some assurance that when your dog, cat, or family is outside playing, they will reduce the risk of an encounter with this vampire like pest. Preventative measures are the key to a safe and healthy summer. 

More comparison articles:

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House Mice and Deer Mice: What’s the difference?
Termites and flying ants: What’s the difference?
Carpenter bees and bumble bees: What’s the difference?

To learn more:

Our service area
Our carpenter bee control services
Our wasp control services
Our hornet control services
Our yellow jacket control services
Six Common Ticks Found in And Around New Jersey
Where do ticks come from and where do they live?