home Analyzes The most dangerous types of ticks for humans. Which ticks are dangerous to humans and why?

The most dangerous types of ticks for humans. Which ticks are dangerous to humans and why?

Anton Akelkin

Head of the quality control department for engineering-oriented design research in the field of high technologies.

Tell me about ticks. Why are they dangerous and how does infection occur?

The ixodid tick is a carrier of encephalitis, borreliosis (the first is a virus, the second is bacteria) and a dozen more various infections. It is quite rare. There are also forest and field ticks. They vary slightly in shape and size and go through three stages of growth: larva, nymph, and adult tick. Each of them differs in size.

Ticks are found throughout almost the entire inhabited territory of Russia, especially in Siberia. They live in grass and bushes where it is quite damp, and rarely rise above 1.5 m from the ground. They don't know how to jump. Active at temperatures +5 °C and above. For example, on the Peschanaya or Sumult rivers, in the gorges, there are a lot of ticks in May-June, but on the Chuya in the area of the Turbina rapids or on the Katun in the Yaloman area, most likely there are no ticks at all, because it is dry and cold. But on Burevestnik or in the area of the Shabash rapids, where there are trees and the humidity is higher, ticks can be found.

Insects hunt with their front legs spread out. They wait for prey, sitting on grass or a branch marked with the smell of sweat, near hiking trails or animal trails. Ticks cannot crawl down. Rarely they can fall from a tree, but it is not very clear how they get there.

Diseases are not transmitted from insect to insect. The tick becomes infected when it bites squirrels, mice and other living creatures.

According to statistics, every sixth tick out of a hundred is encephalitic.

But even if you are bitten by a sick tick, infection does not always occur. Approximately every two hundredth bite transmits encephalitis, every seventieth - borreliosis. The numbers are approximate: not all victims go to the hospital, and not all those who recovered from encephalitis realized that they were infected.

How do ticks get on the body? Is there any way to protect yourself from them?

When a person passes by, the tick grabs onto clothing. It crawls up to the place where, for example, the pants go under the T-shirt, and gets to the body. That's why it's so important to tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your underpants.

When an insect crawls along the body, it touches small hairs with its paws, which sometimes gives itself away. Therefore, girls with shaved legs are less protected from ticks, but are more attractive to men, so it is not yet clear which side of evolutionary selection is on. If something is itching, and you know that in this area there is a risk of stumbling upon a tick, look to see if someone has already sneaked up and wants to suck some blood.

Various repellents help against ticks. Especially those that depict this insect. I think there is no need to remind you that there are instructions on the cylinder. If you are bitten, you should not take repellent orally.

I was still bitten. How to properly remove a tick?

It is necessary to remove the tick as quickly as possible, but carefully. This will not save you from encephalitis, since the virus is contained in saliva. But it may well be caused by borreliosis: the bacteria are in the tick’s stomach and do not immediately enter the bloodstream.

It is best to have a special extraction device. It is sold in pharmacies. Tweezers or a thread loop between the trunk and body are also suitable. You can pull out the tick with your fingers, but then you definitely need to disinfect your hands.

The idea is to grab the tick as close to the proboscis as possible, but do not squeeze the body so as not to squeeze the borrelia into the wound. You need to pull it slightly. If you haven’t pulled it out, twist it in any direction so that the antennae on the proboscis press against the sting and come out of the flesh. A couple of turns will be enough. Then remove the insect.

If you tore a tick from the trunk and it remains in the wound, proceed by analogy with. After removing the tick, treat the wound disinfectants: iodine, brilliant green. But for some reason they don’t recommend alcohol.

You should not smear the tick with oil or gasoline in the hope that it will come out on its own. He will simply die in agony, and before dying he will release bacteria from the stomach into the wound.

I removed the tick. Can I relax or should I run to the hospital?

The easiest way is to do nothing. Statistics are on your side. I have 200 friends on VKontakte, 50 of which I don’t know well. Of the remaining 150, there are three people who suffered from encephalitis in severe form. All three are tourists.

If symptoms appear, you should quickly rush to the hospital. Then act according to the circumstances.

Up to 30% of patients may move their heads, develop partial paralysis after recovery, or even die.

Most the best option- save the living tick and take it for examination. This should be done immediately after the bite. If the tick is contagious, the doctor will prescribe a course of immunoglobulin (for money or through insurance) or doxycycline if borreliosis is suspected. They may be taken to the hospital. This method is not suitable if you are far from civilization.

You can do without an examination of the insect. In this case, you will still be prescribed immunoglobulin and doxycycline, but you will not be admitted to the hospital right away.

Immunoglobulin and doxycycline are not very beneficial for the body and can cause serious complications. Therefore, it is important to transport a live tick to the laboratory whenever possible. Immunoglobulin helps in 50% of cases. For doxycycline, an antibiotic wide range actions, no statistics. There is also yodantipyrine, but its effectiveness is about the same as beer.

The medications must be taken no later than three days from the moment of the bite. The more time passes, the less effective the medications are.

If you are vaccinated against encephalitis, remove and burn the tick. If symptoms of borreliosis appear, go to the hospital. In case of infection with encephalitis, the disease passes without consequences in 97% of cases.

Do I need a vaccination against encephalitis?

It's better to do it anyway. If you are afraid, remember: you cannot get encephalitis from it. The virus in it is neutralized and cannot reproduce. The immune system gets acquainted with the shell of the virus, understands what’s what, and develops immunity.

If the combat virus enters the victim’s body, the immune system will immediately produce the necessary antibodies and will not wait several weeks for the virus to gather an entire army.

How do I know if I'm infected?

Encephalitis can easily be confused with ARVI or influenza. Fever and weakness appear 3–14 days after the bite.

Borreliosis, as a rule, is accompanied by the appearance of a characteristic growing spot at the site of the bite. The stain may migrate, but in rare cases the disease can proceed without it. If you seek help in time, borreliosis can be treated more easily than encephalitis.

They say all sorts of things about ticks. What shouldn't you believe?

Vaccination doesn't help. In fact, the vaccine is 97% effective in protecting you from encephalitis. There are no vaccines against borreliosis, but the disease can be treated if you go to the hospital in a timely manner.
Traditional medicine helps. A specially sharpened immunity will protect you from viruses, which cannot be developed by tincture of burdock with vodka. They will only save you from bacteria.
In order for the tick to come out on its own, you need to anoint it. The tick will die, but the bacteria from its stomach will still penetrate the human body.
You need to suck out or squeeze out the poison. This will only help the infection spread faster through the capillary system.
Altaians and other small ethnic groups have immunity from birth, so they are not vaccinated. They just don't know that vaccinations help.
I was bitten by a tick. I didn't do anything, but everything is fine. Statistics say otherwise.
By appearance it is possible to distinguish an infectious tick from a healthy one. It's a pity, but the insects are not labeled. Both contagious and healthy people look the same.

Ticks are small arachnids, most of which live in the soil and feed on decaying organic matter, playing important role during the formation of humus. Such ticks are not dangerous, unlike their counterparts that live in the grass. A relatively small number of species are carriers of infections that threaten humans, however, according to medical research, every fifth tick that sticks to the body is encephalitic.

Diseases from tick bites

A bug that burrows into the skin can infect a person:

The most dangerous disease that develops after a tick bite is encephalitis, which affects the central nervous system. In 2–20% of cases the disease is fatal. Often consequences after a bite encephalitis tick reduced to paralysis of limbs and disability.

How does a tick work?

The active season for ticks is May–September. Contrary to the stereotype, these insects do not fall from trees onto people. They crawl close to the ground on grass and fallen twigs. Ticks cannot see, but they have an excellent sense of smell. Sensing a victim, these animals jump on a person’s shoes or trouser leg, and then begin to climb up the clothing.

When a tick bites into the skin, it injects an anesthetic substance, so the moment of the bite goes unnoticed. But while the bug is crawling around the body in search of a “tasty” bite spot (armpits, stomach, inner bends of the elbows and knees, behind the ears, groin), you can feel it and shake it off. It is impossible to shake ticks off clothing.

An attached tick can drink up to ten times its weight in blood. A hungry animal has a size of about 2–4 mm, and a tick that has drunk blood increases to 1–2.5 cm.

First aid for a tick bite

The tick must be removed from the skin. Its body almost completely sticks out on the surface, and only the proboscis is located in the skin. You can remove a tick yourself only if you have an antiseptic on hand - the wound must be treated afterwards. If such a remedy is not found, you should contact the nearest medical center.

There are two most effective ways removing the tick:

Thread. A strong thread (or thin rope) about 15 cm long is torn off. A loop is tied in its middle part, which is thrown over the body of the insect as close as possible to the proboscis that has dug into the skin. After this, the ends of the thread are moved left and right. You can’t rush, otherwise the tick’s body will come off and the proboscis will remain inside.
Tweezers. Using medical tweezers or eyebrow tweezers, carefully twist the tick body counterclockwise or clockwise (in one direction!).

If the animal’s proboscis remains under the skin, the bite site is treated with alcohol, and then the “remains” of the tick are removed with a sterile needle, like a splinter.

The bug must be placed in a closed jar and taken to the sanitation station, where they will determine whether the animal was a carrier of the infection. If yes, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

Disease carriers are most often ixodid ticks.

General information about ticks

Ticks are characterized by seasonality. The first cases of attacks are recorded in early spring, when the air temperature rises above 0 0 C, and the last cases - in the fall. Peak bites occur from April to July.

Bloodsuckers do not like bright sun and wind, so they lie in wait for their prey in damp, not too shady places, in thick grass and bushes. Most often found in ravines, on the edges of forests, along the edges of paths or in parks.

Tick attack and bite

The tick gnaws through the skin using a hypostome (oral apparatus) dotted with growths along the edges facing backwards. This structure of the organ helps the bloodsucker to remain firmly in the tissues of the host.

With borreliosis, a tick bite looks like focal erythema up to 20–50 cm in diameter. The shape of the inflammation is most often regular, with an outer border bright red. After a day, the center of the erythema turns pale and acquires a bluish tint, a crust appears and soon the bite site is scarred. After 10–14 days, no trace remains of the lesion.

Signs of a tick bite

there is weakness, a desire to lie down;
chills and fever occur, possibly an increase in temperature;
photophobia appears.

Attention. In people of this group, symptoms may be supplemented low blood pressure, increased heart rate, itching, headache and enlargement of nearby lymph nodes.

In rare cases, difficulty breathing and hallucinations may occur.

Temperature after a bite as a symptom of the disease

Each infection caused by a bloodsucker bite has its own characteristics:

With tick-borne encephalitis, relapsing fever appears. The first rise in temperature is recorded 2–3 days after the bite. After two days everything returns to normal. In some cases, a repeated increase in temperature is observed on days 9–10.
Borreliosis is characterized by fever in the middle of the disease, which is accompanied by other symptoms of infection.
With monocytic ehrlichiosis, the temperature rises 10-14 days after the tick bite and lasts about 3 weeks.

Almost all diseases transmitted by bloodsuckers are accompanied by fever.

Rules of conduct when bitten by a tick

So, what to do if you are bitten by a tick? First of all, it is necessary to remove the bloodsucker as soon as possible. This should be done slowly and carefully so as not to damage it or cause infection. Do not use gasoline, nail polish, or other chemical substances. It won't help either vegetable oil or fat. It is better to use effective and practice-tested methods.

Removing a tick with a thread

The method is simple, but requires a lot of dexterity and patience. It will be useful when extracting large specimens. For the procedure to be successful, it is recommended to perform the following actions:

Extracting a tick with a thread

The removed bloodsucker must be placed in a glass container with a tight lid and taken to the laboratory for research.

Removing a tick using tweezers

Attention. When removing the bloodsucker, tweezers must be held strictly parallel or perpendicular to the skin.

Tick twisters

Tick removers are very effective

Other ways to remove ticks

Wrap your fingers in a handkerchief or gauze to make it easier to hold the tick.
Grab it at the very border with the skin and pull it out with smooth twisting movements.
Disinfect the wound or rinse with water.

If for some reason the tick cannot be preserved for analysis, it should be destroyed by pouring boiling water over it or burning it over a fire.

Attention. If you cannot remove the bloodsucker yourself, you must go to the nearest emergency room.

Medical workers will provide first aid in case of a tick bite: they will professionally remove it and send it for examination, they will disinfect the wound and tell you what to do next. The doctor will definitely inform you what symptoms you should pay attention to in the next month.

What to do after removing a tick?

In people predisposed to allergies, a tick bite can cause a strong response in the body. Facial swelling often develops, difficulty breathing and muscle pain appear. In this case it is necessary:

give the victim an antihistamine: Suprastin, Claritin, Zyrtec;
provide access to fresh air, unbutton clothes;
Call an ambulance.

All other diagnostic and therapeutic measures are carried out only in a hospital setting.

It is recommended that ticks be tested for diseases as soon as possible.

If the tick could not be kept alive, for early diagnosis of the disease it is recommended to donate blood to detect immunoglobulins for infections. The analysis is carried out quickly, the result is usually ready within 5-6 hours. If you have been vaccinated, you must indicate the date when donating blood. The presence of vaccine antibodies may confuse health care providers.

Diseases caused by tick bites

Encephalitis and borreliosis are the most common diseases caused by a tick bite

For Russia, the most significant diseases from tick bites are tick-borne encephalitis, Lyme borreliosis and zoonotic infections. Let's look at them in a little more detail.

Attention. The virus is transmitted through a tick bite. Transmission of the pathogen through the alimentary route is often recorded - through infected cow's or goat's milk that has not been boiled.

Asymptomatic disease is very common and can reach 85–90% in some areas. Prolonged blood sucking significantly increases the risk of bright expressed forms pathology. The virus is well tolerated low temperatures, but dies quite quickly when heated to 80 °C.

Infection with tick-borne encephalitis is seasonal. The first peak of the disease occurs in May-June, the second is recorded in August - early September.

During a bite, the pathogen immediately enters the human blood through salivary glands mite, where it is found in the greatest concentration. After a few hours, the virus penetrates the victim’s central nervous system, and after 2 days it can be detected in brain tissue. Incubation period encephalitis from a tick bite is 14–21 days, when infected through milk - no more than a week.

Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis

The majority of victims have an asymptomatic form of infection, and only 5% have a pronounced form of infection. Tick-borne encephalitis most often begins suddenly with the following symptoms:

increased body temperature to 39-40 °C;
Strong headache;
sleep disturbance;
nausea leading to vomiting;
diarrhea;
redness of the skin of the face and upper body;
weakness, decreased performance.

Such symptoms are characteristic of the febrile form of the disease, which disappears after 5 days. There is no damage to the central nervous system in this case.

Symptoms tick-borne encephalitis- this is what a person looks like after being bitten by a tick

Meningeal and meningoencephalitic forms of pathology are much more severe. The patient complains of lethargy, apathy and drowsiness. Hallucinations, delirium, impaired consciousness, and convulsions similar to epileptic seizures appear. The meningoencephalitic form may end fatal what for recent years very rare.

Periodic muscle twitching indicates damage peripheral nerves. A polyradiculoneuritic form of encephalitis develops, in which general sensitivity is impaired. With the polioencephalomyelitis form of the disease, paresis of the arms and legs is observed.

Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis)

Distributed in the northern regions of Russia. The pathogen enters the human bloodstream when bitten by ixodid ticks and can persist in the body for years. The first symptoms of the disease include:

headache;
temperature rise to 38-39 °C;
fatigue, weakness and apathy.

1–3 weeks after a tick bite, a thickening and ring erythema appear at the site of suction, which can reach 20–50 cm in diameter.

Circular erythema is the main symptom of borreliosis

Attention. Despite the fact that a few weeks after the bite the red spot disappears without a trace, it is necessary to conduct an analysis for the presence of the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, since the disease has serious complications and can be transmitted from pregnant woman to child.

Often in pathological process The central nervous system, heart, muscles and ligaments, joints and organs of vision are involved. Late diagnosis and untimely therapy can lead to chronic borreliosis, which often ends in disability.

Ehrlichiosis

The disease is also transmitted by ixodid ticks. Deer are considered the main reservoir of Ehrlichia, with dogs and horses serving as intermediate reservoirs.

Ehrlichiosis can be asymptomatic or clinically clear, up to fatal outcome. Common signs of the disease include:

fever;
increased sweating;
weakness, drowsiness;
nausea to the point of vomiting;
rigor.

In the acute phase of ehrlichiosis, anemia and a decrease in the level of platelets and leukocytes in the blood are observed.

Relapsing tick-borne typhus

The infection is usually recorded in southern Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. The disease always occurs suddenly and begins with a vesicle at the site of the tick bite. Then to skin manifestations other symptoms are added:

fever;
increased body temperature;
aching joints;
nausea and vomiting;
headache.

Gradually, the bubble becomes bright red, a pronounced rash appears on the patient’s body, the liver enlarges, the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow.

Tick-borne typhus rash

The disease is wavy in nature. The acute phase usually lasts from 3 to 5 days, then the victim’s condition returns to normal and the temperature drops. A few days later everything repeats again. There can be many such attacks. Each subsequent one occurs with less severity.

Coxiellosis

It is one of the most common zoonotic infections in the world. The disease can be transmitted by both farm and wild animals. One of the distributors of the pathogen is the tick, most often the ixodid tick. It is capable of preserving rickettsiae in the body long time and pass them on to offspring. The first symptoms appear 5–30 days after the tick bite:

KU fever is often accompanied by pneumonia, pain in the lower back and muscles. The temperature in the first days of the disease can change several times during the day. This disease can only be treated in a hospital setting; it responds well to therapy and recovery occurs quickly. Complications are rare, and the outcome of the disease is most often favorable. A person who has recovered from coxiellosis develops a strong immune system.

Treatment of victims of tick bites

If a tick has bitten and the test results reveal an infection, the patient is given immunotherapy based on doctor’s prescriptions. Further treatment depends on the type of pathogen that has entered the body.

Treatment of patients with tick-borne encephalitis

There are currently no specific treatments for tick-borne encephalitis. If signs of central nervous system damage appear, the victim must be hospitalized for treatment. medical care. The treatment regimen includes:

Bed rest during the entire duration of the fever and a week after it ends.
In the first days of the disease, administration of immunoglobulin is indicated. For achievement best result it is necessary to apply the product as early as possible, preferably in the first three days after a tick bite.
In general cases, the patient is prescribed corticosteroid drugs and blood substitutes.
For meningitis, increased doses of vitamins B and C are administered.
When worsening respiratory functions the victim is shown artificial ventilation lungs.

IN recovery period the patient is prescribed nootropics, tranquilizers and testosterone simulators.

As an addition to the main treatment, antibiotics may be prescribed to the bite victim. Antimicrobial drugs are used to suppress pathogenic microflora, which can cause various complications.

Therapy for patients with borreliosis

Treatment for Lyme borreliosis involves taking antibiotics. They are used to suppress spirochetes, the causative agents of the disease. The most commonly used drugs penicillin series and cephalosporins. To relieve erythema it is prescribed antimicrobial agents tetracycline group.

Antibiotics are used to treat borreliosis

When neurological disorders the victim is hospitalized. In the hospital they carry out complex therapy, which includes:

blood substitutes;
corticosteroids;
testosterone mimics;
nootropic drugs to improve cerebral circulation;
vitamin complexes.

The outcome of borreliosis depends on the timely detection of a tick bite, correct setting diagnosis and early start therapy. Incompetent treatment often leads to chronic phase Lyme disease, which is difficult to treat and can result in disability or death of the victim.

Attention. To treat protozoal infections, medications are used that prevent further growth and development of protozoa.

Complications after a tick bite

Summarizing all of the above, we can draw a very disappointing conclusion about the consequences of a tick bite. As you can see, infections strike the most important systems body:

lungs - with the development of symptoms of pneumonia and pulmonary hemorrhages;
liver - indigestion, problems with stool (diarrhea);
CNS - with frequent headaches, hallucinations, paresis and paralysis;
cardiovascular system - arrhythmia and blood pressure surges appear;
joints - arthritis and arthralgia are formed.

The consequences of a tick bite can develop in two ways. With a favorable outcome, loss of performance, weakness and lethargy continue for 2–3 months, then all body functions return to normal.

In case of illness moderate severity recovery lasts up to six months or longer. A serious form of the disease requires rehabilitation period up to 2–3 years, provided that the disease proceeded without paralysis and paresis.

If the outcome is unfavorable, there is a persistent and long-term (or permanent) decrease in the quality of life of the victim of a tick bite. Manifests itself as a violation of motor function. Clinical picture significantly worsens under the influence of nervous and physical fatigue, pregnancy, and regular alcohol intake.

Persistent disorders in the form of epileptic manifestations and spontaneous convulsions lead to the patient's incapacity.

Disability as a consequence of a tick bite

As you know, there are 3 groups of disabilities. The degree of damage to the body after a tick bite is determined by a special medical commission:

Disability Group III- mild paresis of the arms and legs, rare epileptic seizures, inability to perform highly skilled work that requires precision and attention.
Group II disability - severe paresis of the limbs, partial muscle paresis, severe epilepsy with mental changes, asthenic syndrome, loss of ability to self-care.
Group I disability - acquired dementia, severe motor dysfunction, persistent and complete epilepsy, widespread muscle paresis, loss of self-control and inability to move independently.

In particular severe cases at inadequate treatment infections caused by a tick bite or complete absence therapy may result in death.

Prevention of tick bites

The main and main measure to prevent diseases transmitted by bloodsuckers is vaccination. The event significantly reduces the risk of infection after tick bites. Vaccination is necessary for persons living in epidemiologically dangerous areas or people whose work is related to forestry.

Vaccination is the main measure to prevent diseases caused by tick bites.

Advice. Despite the limited risk group, it is better for everyone to get vaccinated. After all, it is not known where you will be “lucky” to encounter a tick.

Primary vaccination is allowed from early age. Adults can use domestic and imported drugs, for children - only imported ones. You should not buy the vaccine yourself and bring it to the vaccination office. They won't drive her anyway. The drug requires a lot strict rules storage, compliance with a certain temperature and light conditions, which is impossible to do at home. Therefore, there is no point in purchasing an expensive drug and storing it in the refrigerator.

There are two vaccination options:

Preventive vaccination. Helps protect against tick bites for a year, and after additional vaccination - for at least 3 years. Revaccinations are carried out every three years.
Emergency vaccination. Helps protect against tick bites short term. For example, such a procedure will be necessary for an urgent trip to regions with high tick-borne activity. While in epidemiological hazardous areas It is recommended to take iodantipyrine.

The vaccine is administered only after a detailed interview, visual inspection and temperature measurement. Persons having inflammatory diseases, do not vaccinate until complete recovery.

How to protect yourself from a tick bite?

When going to an unfavorable area, you should choose clothes in light colors:

a shirt or jacket with cuffs and a tight-fitting collar, trousers tucked into boots;
anti-encephalitis suit;
a thick hood with ties that protects the ears and neck from ticks;
It is advisable to treat clothes with insecticidal agents.

The best way do not “meet” a tick - strictly follow all preventive measures

To repel ticks, special insecticidal products based on DEET are produced, but repellents are not effective enough and require application every 2 hours. They can be processed open areas bodies and clothes.

Acaricides are more effective. The drugs are used for contact destruction of ticks. They can only be used on outerwear worn over underwear.

Attention. Often there are acaricides on sale for application to skin. However, they should be used very carefully. Possible strong allergic reaction and poisoning.

Tick-borne encephalitis insurance

Last time wide use received insurance for expenses associated with possible disease encephalitis after an “encounter” with a tick. This measure is often used as an addition to vaccination or as an independent measure.

Insurance for the costs associated with the treatment of a tick bite will not hurt anyone

Insurance will help pay expensive treatment tick-borne encephalitis and other infections carried by bloodsuckers.

Attention. The article is for reference only. Competent diagnosis and treatment of diseases is possible only under the supervision of a specialist.

The tick (lat. Acari) is one of the oldest inhabitants inhabiting our planet. Contrary to erroneous belief, ticks are not insects, but are representatives of the arachnid order.

Description of ticks. What does a tick look like?

These representatives of arthropods rarely reach 3 mm in size; the size of mites generally ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 mm. As befits arachnids, ticks lack wings. Adult ticks have 4 pairs of legs, and specimens that have not reached sexual maturity have three pairs of legs. Having no eyes, ticks navigate in space using a well-developed sensory apparatus, thanks to which they can smell the victim 10 meters away. According to the structure of the body, all types of ticks can be divided into leathery ones, with fused head and chest, and hard (armored) ones, in which the head is movably attached to the body. The supply of oxygen also depends on the structure of the body: the former breathe through the skin or trachea, while armored animals have special spiracles.

What do ticks eat?

According to their feeding method, ticks are divided into:

Predatory blood-sucking ticks wait for their prey, lying in ambush on blades of grass, twigs and sticks. Using paws equipped with claws and suction cups, they attach to it, after which they move to the feeding site (groin, neck or head area, armpits). Moreover, the victim of a tick can be not only a person, but also other herbivorous ticks or thrips.

A tick bite can be very dangerous, since ticks are carriers of diseases, including encephalitis. Ticks can survive without food for up to 3 years, but at the slightest opportunity they show miracles of gluttony and can increase in weight up to 120 times.

Types of ticks. Classification of ticks.

There are more than 40,000 species of ticks, which scientists have divided into 2 main superorders:

Description of the main types of ticks:

. It is absolutely harmless to birds, animals and humans, since it is a complete “vegetarian” and feeds on plant juices, settling on the bottom of the leaf and sucking the juices out of it. It is a carrier of gray rot, which is destructive for plants.

It feeds on its relatives, so sometimes it is specially introduced by humans into greenhouses and hothouse farms to combat spider mites.

Granary (flour, bread) mite. For humans, in principle, it is safe, but for grain or flour stocks it is a serious pest: the products become clogged with waste from the flour mite, which leads to its rotting and mold formation.

lives in the southern part of Russia, Kazakhstan, Transcaucasia, mountains Central Asia, on South Western Siberia. Mainly settles in forest-steppes or forests. Dangerous for animals and humans, it can be a carrier of encephalitis, plague, brucellosis, and fever.

harmless to humans, but dangerous to dogs. Lives everywhere. Particularly active in coastal areas and on Black Sea coast.

Where do ticks live?

Ticks live in every climate zone and on every continent. Due to the fact that ticks prefer damp places, their habitats are forest ravines, undergrowth, thickets near the banks of streams, flooded meadows, overgrown paths, animal fur, dark warehouses with agricultural products, etc. Selected species adapted for life in seas and reservoirs with fresh water. Some mites live in houses and apartments, for example, house mites, dust mites, and flour mites.

Spread of ticks.

How long does a tick live?

The lifespan of a tick depends on the species. For example, house dust mites or dust mites live 65-80 days. Other species, such as the taiga tick, live up to 4 years. Without food, ticks can live from 1 month to 3 years.

Reproduction of ticks. Stages (cycle) of tick development.

Most ticks are oviparous, although viviparous species are also found. Like all arachnids, mites have a clear division into females and males. The most ineresting life cycle observed in blood-sucking species. The following stages of tick development are distinguished:

Larva
Nymph
Adult

Tick eggs.

At the end of spring or beginning of summer, the female tick, having had enough of blood, lays a clutch of 2.5-3 thousand eggs. What do tick eggs look like? The egg is a fairly large cell relative to the size of the female, consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus, and covered with a two-layer shell, which is painted in a variety of colors. Tick eggs can have completely different shapes- from round or oval, to flattened and elongated.

What do tick eggs look like?