Do Ticks Bite in the Winter?

Tick in the winter in Albuquerque NM - Pest Defense Solutions

During the winter, pests and insects are scarce. Some populations go into a hibernation state known as diapause, but others disappear completely. However, there are some pests that can remain active even during the winter, ticks included. We all know these blood-sucking pests are common in the summer, but they can still cause trouble during the colder months. Although bites are rare from a tick this time of year, mild winters in Albuquerque can lead to more tick activity than you may expect. For this reason, it’s crucial to remain vigilant against ticks year-round. The experts at Pest Defense Solutions are here to share everything you know about seasonal tick activity. 

Tick Life Stages

A tick can live for two to three years. Throughout this period, they undergo four primary stages of development: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Each season plays an important role in their life cycle:

  1. Female ticks lay their eggs in the spring at the end of their lives. Each tick can lay thousands of translucent-looking eggs, which are found in clusters under leaves, bushes, and other places. When the tick eggs hatch, they become six-legged larvae.
  2. Nymph ticks are most active during the winter when the temperature exceeds 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Larvae seldom carry disease, and they become nymphs after feeding on their first host. During these cold months, the nymphs mostly rest under leaf litter.
  3. Nymphs become adult ticks after feeding on hosts for four to five days. During the spring, summer, and fall, these adult ticks will feed and mate before reaching the end of their lifespan.

Tick Bites in the Winter

Since winter ticks are usually dormant, or nymphs, bites are rare. As temperatures fall below 37 degrees Fahrenheit, adult ticks that can’t locate hosts retreat beneath leaf litter or other surface vegetation, becoming inactive. Ticks will resume looking for hosts in February or March unless it has been an unusually warm winter. If winter temperatures are mild, you could still be bitten by a tick. Even in the winter, it is possible to become infected by a tick, so it is crucial to avoid getting bitten year-round!

Need Help Getting Rid of Ticks?

Pest Defense Solutions knows ticks and the diseases they transmit are major concerns. Tick control experts are standing by to help you if you are concerned about ticks on your Albuquerque NM property. Contact us today to get started!

How to Safely Dislodge a Tick

American dog tick found in Albuquerque - Pest Defense Solutions

As you prepare for another hot spring and summer, it’s important to keep in mind that ticks are coming back to bite us. Warm weather means more habitable conditions for ticks, as well as more animals to feed on. Ticks have the capability to transmit many serious diseases, including the infamous Lyme disease. Learning how to remove ticks in the safest way possible can prevent you and your family from contracting diseases this summer.

What Kinds of Ticks Live in Albuquerque?

Here in Albuquerque, we most commonly see cases of the American dog tick biting our residents and their pests. These ticks have oval-shaped bodies with reddish-brown coloration and small white markings on their backs. They are usually about 5mm in length but can grow up to three times larger when engorged with blood.

Fortunately for us, Lyme disease can only be contracted through a deer tick bite – American dog ticks are not known to carry the disease. Deer ticks live primarily in the eastern half of the United States, but there have been some reported cases of Lyme disease in New Mexico over the years.

Tick removal guide - Pest Defense Solutions in AlbuquerqueRemoving Ticks Safely

If you’ve been bitten by a tick, try to remove it as soon as possible to minimize your chances of contracting a disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have set out a course of four steps to remove ticks from your skin as safely as possible:

  1. Using a pair of fine tweezers, grab the tick at the closest point to the skin that you can.
  2. Pull the tick out of the skin using a slow and steady motion. If you turn the tweezers while pulling, the tick’s mouthparts might break off in your skin. Just use the tweezers again to remove the mouthparts if this happens.
  3. Clean the area of the bite with soap and warm water or rubbing alcohol after dislodging the tick.
  4. Do not squish the tick with your bare hands. Get rid of the tick by throwing it away in a sealed trash bin or flushing it down the toilet.

If you’re experiencing rashes or fever that you believe to be related to a recent tick bite, talk to a doctor about your symptoms and the location and time of your bite.

How Pest Defense Solutions Can Help with Tick Control

If you want to take preventative measures for a tick-free summer this year, reach out to your local pest control company. Our tick experts at Pest Defense Solutions are well versed in tick issues around Albuquerque and can tell you all about the best ways to avoid bites in your area. Contact us today for a free estimate!