How to Kill Lone Star Ticks

Ticks thrive in overgrown areas which provide shade and a cooler climate.

During every stage of a lone star tick's life, it will feed on human blood. According to the Center for Disease Control, over the past twenty years, lone star ticks have seen a surge in abundance. Though primarily located in the southeastern and south-central United States, the lone star tick has been found as far away as Maine. Contrary to popular belief, the Center for Disease Control affirms that the lone star tick is not a known carrier of Lyme disease. The saliva of the tick makes a red rash similar to early stages of Lyme disease but is in fact much less harmful. Ridding your home of these pests is fairly simple.

Instructions

1. Mow your lawn. Lone star ticks are attracted to areas that shield them from sunlight and warm air. Mowing your lawn lessens cover from the sun and raises the temperature of the soil, making it an inhospitable environment for ticks. Although a simple thing, mowing your lawn can reduce the likelihood of tick infestation by almost 75 percent.

2. Use an insecticide on any shaded areas outdoors. Since ticks do not like sunlight, there is little need to spray insecticide on open areas of lawn. Insecticides are only a short-term solution, however. New ticks can arrive on their own or be brought in by wild animals. Spraying insecticide should only happen after you have made your environment as inhospitable to ticks as possible.

3. Wash all of your clothing in hot, soapy water. Ticks cling to clothing in the same way they cling to the fur on an animal. Most ticks are large enough to see and can be removed directly from your clothes. However, it is wise to wash your clothes in hot water to kill any remaining ticks or tick eggs that you might have missed. Fortunately, most homes are too dry inside for ticks to survive long.

4. Call an exterminator if you can't seem to rid yourself of ticks. Professional exterminators will go through your property, killing ticks and locating possible contaminated areas. Exterminators can advise you on ways to prevent further tick infestations, such as keeping your trash tightly sealed as a way to prevent attracting wild animals that carry ticks.

Tips & Warnings

• Lone star ticks are also known as turkey mites and, more commonly, as deer ticks.

References

• The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture: The Lone Star Tick in Kentucky
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Lone Star Tick a Concern, but Not for Lyme Disease