Although not painful, tick bites can cause infections or chronic diseases such as Lyme disease. To identify a tick outbreak, examine the features of ticks that differ from other insects. Some insects that have tick-like characteristics are generally harmless. However, ticks must be exterminated as soon as possible so as not to cause infection or disease. If unsure, contact a pest control service to identify ticks.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Checking Ticks Features
Step 1. Notice the round and oval shape of the body
Before the body swells with blood, the tick's body is oval in shape with two core segments. After swelling, the head of the tick is not enlarged, but the body is enlarged and rounded.
Step 2. Watch for insects measuring 1.3 to 5.1 cm
When found, the tick's body size will depend on how much blood it has consumed. Before consuming blood, the body of a tick is the size of a pinhead. After a few hours or sooner, the tick will swell to the size of a lima bean.
Step 3. Observe the hard layer that protects the body
Often, ticks have a hard exoskeleton. These ticks are called hard or “original” ticks. Most people generally describe ticks based on these characteristics. Soft ticks have a flexible exoskeleton and are only found in certain areas.
Soft ticks can be found in the western United States and southwestern Canada
Step 4. Check the star-shaped pattern on the back
Amblyomma Americanum (star tick) has a white star-shaped pattern on its exoskeleton. If the insect you find doesn't have this pattern, it could be a tick. This pattern is a prominent feature of the tick species Amblyomma Americanum.
Step 5. Examine the insect's black legs
Black-legged ticks have legs that are darker in color than their bodies. Like the foot of Amblyomma Americanum, the black leg is a prominent characteristic of the black-legged tick and may not be present in other tick species.
Method 2 of 3: Distinguishing Ticks from Other Insects
Step 1. Do not classify insects with wings or antennae as ticks
Ticks do not have wings and antennae. If you find an insect with wings or antennae, it is not a tick. Look for insect species that have tick-like characteristics but have wings or antennae if the insect you find has these characteristics.
Weevils, insects often considered ticks, have wings and antennae
Step 2. Count the number of legs
Because ticks are arachnids, like spiders and scorpions, ticks have 8 legs. If the insect you find has 6 legs, it is an insect and not a tick.
If the insect's legs are less than 6 or more than 8, the insect is not an insect or an arachnid, and most importantly not a tick
Step 3. Watch for insects that feed on blood but don't flock
Because of their similar characteristics, billbugs are insects that are often thought of as ticks. The way to tell ticks and billbugs apart is to pay attention to them. Billbugs live in groups, while ticks generally live alone. Ticks consume blood, while billbugs do not.
Remember, billbugs do not live around humans or animals. Ticks generally live around humans and animals
Step 4. Watch for insects that are not sticking to the surface of the skin but sticking in
Ticks and bed bugs live around humans and animals. However, the way they consume animal and human blood is different. Ticks stick their bodies to consume the blood of living things while bed bugs only stick to the surface of the skin.
Make sure you've identified any insects you find as ticks or bed bugs before removing them from your skin. If not handled properly, the head of the tick will remain embedded in the skin
Method 3 of 3: Identifying Tick Bites
Step 1. Check for mild pain around the bite
Tick bites are generally not very painful. If you feel a sharp pain, it's not a tick bite. Know your symptoms to determine what insect or arachnid bit you and treat it.
If you are bitten by a soft tick, you will immediately feel pain around the bite area after the tick stops sticking
Step 2. Observe the redness of the bite
Even if a tick bite isn't too painful, your immune system will still respond. If the bite mark and the area around it are red, you may have just been bitten by a tick. However, reddened skin is a common symptom of insect bites.
Step 3. Watch for rashes that appear after a few days or weeks
Although not always classified as a symptom of a tick bite, a rash may appear when the tick bite becomes infected or when you contract the disease from the bite. If the rash spreads to other parts of the body, consult a doctor immediately.
Some diseases caused by ticks, such as Lyme disease, can take months or years before symptoms appear
Step 4. Find the tick that is still stuck to the skin
Since tick bites are generally painless, the most common way to find tick bites is to look for ticks that are still stuck to the skin. Compare the stuck insect with other insects before pulling it out. Use tweezers or a credit card to safely remove the bugs. If you are not careful, the tick's head will still stick to the skin.
Step 5. Recognize the symptoms of tick bites that require prompt treatment
While most tick bites are self-treatable, you may need emergency medical attention if the bite becomes infected or causes an allergy. Treat a tick bite immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
- Red bumps (itching) all over the body
- Difficulty breathing
- Swollen mouth, lips, tongue or throat
- Dizziness, or loss of consciousness
Tips
- To prevent tick infestations, keep shrubs, grass, and other plants short. Ticks generally live in leafy areas and overgrown with leaves.
- Remove stuck ticks as soon as possible to prevent the spread of disease or infection.
