What are seed ticks, and are they dangerous?

A seed tick is a tick that is in the larval stage of its life. Ticks are tiny parasites that survive by drinking the blood of humans and other animals. The larval stage occurs just after the tick hatches from an egg, but before it finds its first blood meal.

In this article, we explain what a seed tick is, what it looks like, and whether it is dangerous. We also provide information on how to treat and prevent tick bites.

Share on PinterestSeed ticks, which have not had their first blood meal, are in the larval stage of the tick life cycle.

Ticks are a type of parasite that survives by feeding on the blood of various animals, including humans. Ticks belong to a class of creatures called arachnids, which also includes spiders, mites, and scorpions.

A seed tick is a tick that is in the second stage of its life cycle. There are four life stages in total. These are:

• Stage 1: the egg stage
• Stage 2: the larval stage
• Stage 3: the nymph stage
• Stage 4: the adult stage

For a tick to move through each of its life stages, it must find an appropriate host on which to feed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ticks typically require a new host for each stage of their life cycle.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tick larvae range in size from 0.5–1.5 millimeters.

Ticks in the larval stage appear pale in color and have only six legs, whereas ticks in the nymph and adult stages are darker in color and have eight legs.

Seed ticks are in the earliest active stage of their life cycle. During this stage, they are capable of attaching themselves to humans and other animals.

According to a 2019 case study, seed ticks often attack in large groups. If they come into contact with a human, they can cause pustules and papules to form on the skin. However, it is not clear whether seed ticks are capable of spreading disease-causing pathogens.

Tickborne diseases occur when a tick contracts an infection and then passes it on to the next host. It is possible that seed ticks will not be carrying pathogens because they have not yet fed on a host.

Once a tick has attached itself to a host, it may crawl around in search of a suitable place to bite. Ticks will typically search for places where the skin is thinner and easier to penetrate.

According to the CDC, once the tick finds a suitable entry point, it creates a small cut in the skin. It then inserts a feeding tube into the cut. Some tick species have barbed feeding tubes that help anchor them in place while feeding. Others secrete a substance that keeps them attached to the skin.

When they are attaching, some ticks secrete a small amount of saliva into their host. The saliva has anesthetic properties that prevent the host from detecting the presence of the tick.

Once attached, the tick will slowly suck the blood of its host. It may continue feeding for several days. During this time, if the tick is carrying a pathogen, it may transmit the pathogen to its host.

Ideally, people should remove ticks as soon as possible to help reduce the risk of disease. There are several tick removal methods that people claim to be effective.

However, the CDC warn against tick removal methods that involve trying to suffocate the tick, such as applying nail polish or petroleum jelly. Instead, they recommend removing ticks using a pair of fine tipped tweezers.

Click here to learn how to remove a tick.

During removal, the tick’s mouthparts can remain lodged in the skin. Where possible, a person should remove the mouthparts with tweezers. If this fails, they should simply leave the area alone and allow the skin to heal.

Seed ticks are most active during the months of July, August, and September. Therefore, a person is most likely to encounter seed ticks during the summer months.

When seeking a host, ticks will typically wait in leaf litter or on grasses or thick brush. It is possible to pick up ticks in any outdoor area where such vegetation is present. These areas include forests, parks, and gardens.

The CDC offer the following advice to help prevent ticks in the yard:

• Remove leaf litter, tall grass, and brush.
• Trim trees and bushes around yard edges to encourage sunlight to hit the ground.
• Keep grass mowed and trimmed.
• Widen trails that lead through any wild areas.
• Keep pets away from brush and tall grasses.

The Washington Trail Association note that people can help avoid tick bites when hiking by:

• wearing pants and long sleeved shirts
• tucking their shirt into their pants, and tucking their pants into their boots
• using a hat with a neck flap to protect their neck
• wearing lighter color clothes so that ticks are more visible on them

A person may also wish to consider applying a topical insecticide, such as DEET or permethrin. However, they should talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using a topical insecticide, as these products can cause side effects.

There are about 900 species of ticks throughout the world, and experts only know of a few that bite humans.

There are several species of tick in the United States. According to the CDC, the three species most likely to bite humans in the U.S. are:

• blacklegged tick
• dog tick
• lone star tick

In some cases, a person may not realize that a tick has latched onto them. When the tick detaches, the person may have an itchy spot that feels like a regular bug bite. The person may not visit their doctor until they start to show symptoms of a tick-related illness.

Click here to learn more about some tickborne disease and their symptoms.

With each type of illness, a person may develop a distinctive rash. The rash will differ according to the type of tickborne illness. The CDC provide the following examples:

• Lyme disease: About 70–80% of people who develop Lyme disease will develop a rash in the early stages. The rash typically resembles a bull’s-eye that expands across the skin. However, some people have reported solid, crusty, or blistering lesions.
• Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI): A person may develop an expanding bull’s-eye rash, similar to that of Lyme disease.
• Tularemia: A person may develop an ulcer at the site of the tick bite, along with swelling of the lymph nodes around the groin or armpit.
• Ehrlichiosis: As many as 1 in 3 people with this condition will develop a rash. The rash may appear as splotches or pinpoint dots on the skin. It typically develops within 5 days of a fever.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF): Approximately 90% of people with RMSF develop a rash on the skin of the wrists, forearms, ankles, and trunk. The rash usually consists of flat dots that do not itch. In most cases, the rash appears 2–5 days after the onset of other symptoms.

Seed ticks are ticks in the larval stage of their life cycle. It is not clear whether seed ticks are capable of transmitting diseases, though their bites may cause skin irritation.

A person can take steps to help prevent tick bites. These include maintaining a well-kept yard or garden that is free of leaf debris and tall grasses and wearing suitable clothing when hiking outdoors.

It is not always possible for a person to tell when a tick has bitten them. As such, a person should contact their doctor if they develop a rash or other symptoms of a tickborne disease.

What are seed ticks, and are they dangerous?

A seed tick is a tick that is in the larval stage of its life. Ticks are tiny parasites that survive by drinking the blood of humans and other animals. The larval stage occurs just after the tick hatches from an egg, but before it finds its first blood meal.

In this article, we explain what a seed tick is, what it looks like, and whether it is dangerous. We also provide information on how to treat and prevent tick bites.

Share on PinterestSeed ticks, which have not had their first blood meal, are in the larval stage of the tick life cycle.

Ticks are a type of parasite that survives by feeding on the blood of various animals, including humans. Ticks belong to a class of creatures called arachnids, which also includes spiders, mites, and scorpions.

A seed tick is a tick that is in the second stage of its life cycle. There are four life stages in total. These are:

• Stage 1: the egg stage
• Stage 2: the larval stage
• Stage 3: the nymph stage
• Stage 4: the adult stage

For a tick to move through each of its life stages, it must find an appropriate host on which to feed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ticks typically require a new host for each stage of their life cycle.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tick larvae range in size from 0.5–1.5 millimeters.

Ticks in the larval stage appear pale in color and have only six legs, whereas ticks in the nymph and adult stages are darker in color and have eight legs.

Seed ticks are in the earliest active stage of their life cycle. During this stage, they are capable of attaching themselves to humans and other animals.

According to a 2019 case study, seed ticks often attack in large groups. If they come into contact with a human, they can cause pustules and papules to form on the skin. However, it is not clear whether seed ticks are capable of spreading disease-causing pathogens.

Tickborne diseases occur when a tick contracts an infection and then passes it on to the next host. It is possible that seed ticks will not be carrying pathogens because they have not yet fed on a host.

Once a tick has attached itself to a host, it may crawl around in search of a suitable place to bite. Ticks will typically search for places where the skin is thinner and easier to penetrate.

According to the CDC, once the tick finds a suitable entry point, it creates a small cut in the skin. It then inserts a feeding tube into the cut. Some tick species have barbed feeding tubes that help anchor them in place while feeding. Others secrete a substance that keeps them attached to the skin.

When they are attaching, some ticks secrete a small amount of saliva into their host. The saliva has anesthetic properties that prevent the host from detecting the presence of the tick.

Once attached, the tick will slowly suck the blood of its host. It may continue feeding for several days. During this time, if the tick is carrying a pathogen, it may transmit the pathogen to its host.

Ideally, people should remove ticks as soon as possible to help reduce the risk of disease. There are several tick removal methods that people claim to be effective.

However, the CDC warn against tick removal methods that involve trying to suffocate the tick, such as applying nail polish or petroleum jelly. Instead, they recommend removing ticks using a pair of fine tipped tweezers.

Click here to learn how to remove a tick.

During removal, the tick’s mouthparts can remain lodged in the skin. Where possible, a person should remove the mouthparts with tweezers. If this fails, they should simply leave the area alone and allow the skin to heal.

Seed ticks are most active during the months of July, August, and September. Therefore, a person is most likely to encounter seed ticks during the summer months.

When seeking a host, ticks will typically wait in leaf litter or on grasses or thick brush. It is possible to pick up ticks in any outdoor area where such vegetation is present. These areas include forests, parks, and gardens.

The CDC offer the following advice to help prevent ticks in the yard:

• Remove leaf litter, tall grass, and brush.
• Trim trees and bushes around yard edges to encourage sunlight to hit the ground.
• Keep grass mowed and trimmed.
• Widen trails that lead through any wild areas.
• Keep pets away from brush and tall grasses.

The Washington Trail Association note that people can help avoid tick bites when hiking by:

• wearing pants and long sleeved shirts
• tucking their shirt into their pants, and tucking their pants into their boots
• using a hat with a neck flap to protect their neck
• wearing lighter color clothes so that ticks are more visible on them

A person may also wish to consider applying a topical insecticide, such as DEET or permethrin. However, they should talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using a topical insecticide, as these products can cause side effects.

There are about 900 species of ticks throughout the world, and experts only know of a few that bite humans.

There are several species of tick in the United States. According to the CDC, the three species most likely to bite humans in the U.S. are:

• blacklegged tick
• dog tick
• lone star tick

In some cases, a person may not realize that a tick has latched onto them. When the tick detaches, the person may have an itchy spot that feels like a regular bug bite. The person may not visit their doctor until they start to show symptoms of a tick-related illness.

Click here to learn more about some tickborne disease and their symptoms.

With each type of illness, a person may develop a distinctive rash. The rash will differ according to the type of tickborne illness. The CDC provide the following examples:

• Lyme disease: About 70–80% of people who develop Lyme disease will develop a rash in the early stages. The rash typically resembles a bull’s-eye that expands across the skin. However, some people have reported solid, crusty, or blistering lesions.
• Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI): A person may develop an expanding bull’s-eye rash, similar to that of Lyme disease.
• Tularemia: A person may develop an ulcer at the site of the tick bite, along with swelling of the lymph nodes around the groin or armpit.
• Ehrlichiosis: As many as 1 in 3 people with this condition will develop a rash. The rash may appear as splotches or pinpoint dots on the skin. It typically develops within 5 days of a fever.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF): Approximately 90% of people with RMSF develop a rash on the skin of the wrists, forearms, ankles, and trunk. The rash usually consists of flat dots that do not itch. In most cases, the rash appears 2–5 days after the onset of other symptoms.

Seed ticks are ticks in the larval stage of their life cycle. It is not clear whether seed ticks are capable of transmitting diseases, though their bites may cause skin irritation.

A person can take steps to help prevent tick bites. These include maintaining a well-kept yard or garden that is free of leaf debris and tall grasses and wearing suitable clothing when hiking outdoors.

It is not always possible for a person to tell when a tick has bitten them. As such, a person should contact their doctor if they develop a rash or other symptoms of a tickborne disease.

What bed bug bites look like

Bed bug bites cause a lot of trouble: from itching to angioedema. And since insects are perhaps the most bloodthirsty among other bloodsuckers, exposed areas of the body will suffer regularly every night. However, even if you notice a bite on your body, you may not always understand that it is a bug, since mosquitoes and fleas can leave very similar marks.

What bed bug bites look like

Bed bug bites look like this:

• the affected area of ​​the body swells, a lump with a clear contour forms in the center of the swelling; a puncture is visible on the bump;
• Bed bug bites look like a “track” of four to six punctures 1-4 cm apart. Individuals hunt in groups, so more than a dozen of these tracks can be found on the body in the morning;
• microscopic blood stains on bedding and underwear;
• itching at the site of a bed bug bite occurs after waking up. The delayed reaction is explained by the fact that when piercing the skin, the insect injects an enzyme with saliva, which acts as an anesthetic;
• insects feed only at night. Only very hungry individuals can go hunting during the day; damaged areas of the skin look like this: they swell, itch, there is a burning sensation and pain.

Bed bug bites are noticeable and cause a lot of trouble, which can be dealt with in many ways.

How to get rid of bed bug bites

Using a medicated ointment or cream is the most affordable and effective way to get rid of bed bug bites. The active ingredients have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which allows you to quickly eliminate redness and itching. Use common products that are always available in any pharmacies:

• menovazine with benzocaine and procaine eliminates pain, while levomenthol gives a feeling of coolness on the skin and enhances the effect of anesthetics;
• hydrocortisone ointment containing steroid hormones has anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous, antipruritic action;
• gel-balm “Mosquitol” with an antibacterial complex with silver ions has an anti-inflammatory and regenerating effect.

Pharmaceutical ointment will help eliminate discomfort and prevent the appearance of pustules, which often appear when scratching the site of a bed bug bite.

How to get rid of bedbug bites with home remedies

If you don’t have a healing ointment or cream on hand, use the remedies that are at hand to get rid of unpleasant symptoms. For example, baking soda is a natural antiseptic that reduces inflammation, pain and itching. To prepare the solution, mix a tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate with a liter of warm water. Soak a clean piece of gauze or bandage in the liquid, wring out and apply to the affected area for 5-10 minutes. Pain is also relieved with alcohol, chamomile decoction or soap and water.

It is important to understand that the symptoms will not disappear immediately after applying the solution, it will take some time. Insect saliva contains a unique enzyme, acetylcholinesterase, which has a strong effect on the human nervous system, so it is impossible to achieve instant relief from discomfort.

Bed bug bites themselves do not harm people, although they look unattractive. The danger is an allergic reaction that develops after a puncture, which manifests itself in different people in different ways: from obsessive itching to Quincke’s edema.

How to get rid of bed bug bites with tablets

In case of severe allergic reactions to bed bug bites, it is better to use antihistamine and painkillers such as Suprastin or Clemastine. The drugs relieve itching, swelling, redness, and most importantly, prevent the development of urticaria and angioedema, which often develop in allergy sufferers.

Doctor’s help

If bed bug bites lead to a rapid deterioration in the general condition and you are afraid of what the bite site looks like, you should immediately consult a doctor. Pain and reporting can be relieved with an anesthetic gel and an antihistamine tablet. However, a visit to the doctor should not be postponed, and in acute cases it is recommended to call an ambulance. The doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment that will alleviate the condition as soon as possible.

It is important to remember that bed bug bites will be a nuisance until the apartment is cleaned properly.

Do not skimp on your health, if you have bed bugs in your apartment, contact DezinService by phone +7 (812) 927 58 69 for a consultation. We will help you get rid of bedbugs and make you forget what their bites look like forever!

bites, what they look like, where they hide

Bed bugs are dangerous and tenacious insects. It is very important to order professional bed bug extermination services as soon as possible and not to delay the solution of the problem. The faster and better the treatment is carried out, the less risks for health and comfort.

How can you tell if there are bed bugs?

To find out if bed bugs are infested, you need to do a number of simple manipulations, but it is important to do it carefully and without haste:

1. Check the skin : bug bite marks look like redness with swelling and are most often located on the neck, shoulders , back, ribs and legs. Examine all family members and pets.
2. Examine bed linen : blood stains from bites, black dots and dead specimens will clearly indicate the presence of a parasite and the need for treatment.
3. Sniff : bugs, with rare exceptions, exude an unpleasant odor similar to the smell of cilantro, coriander, spoiled fruits and berries, bad cognac. It will not be strong, but it can be felt next to pest clusters.
4. Ask your neighbors : bedbugs rarely start in only one apartment, it is highly likely that neighbors have similar problems.

Where do bed bugs come from

It is commonly believed that bed bugs appear due to dirt, uncleanliness and the accumulation of old and dirty things, but this is not entirely true. The most common reason for the appearance of parasites in the house will be their migration from really dirty rooms: basements, from infected apartments, both from neighbors and animal hair brought on clothes.

One contaminated room can be a source of problems for countless people. And not always the presence of bedbugs in you indicates that you are doing the housework incorrectly.

What domestic bed bugs look like

Appearance

Domestic bed bugs have a rounded body with pronounced stripes that form at the junctions of the chitinous segments of the abdomen. Well-fed bugs acquire volume and become darker, almost black, while hungry bugs become flat, brown or red. Outwardly, bugs can resemble an apple seed if they are full or a rusty coin if they are still hungry.

Body structure

The body of an insect consists of three conditional parts:

1. Head . It has two bulging eyes, antennae and proboscis.
2. Chest . Three pairs of legs and a pair of miniature elytra are attached to it, despite the fact that the bugs do not have wings and cannot fly.
3. Abdomen . Consists of 10 segments and contains odorous glands, spiracles, reproductive and digestive systems.

Dimensions

The size of an adult bed bug is 4 to 8 mm. The body of an insect is capable of almost doubling after saturation, which justifies the difference in average size. The larvae barely reach 1 mm after hatching from the egg and grow rapidly. The size of the egg laid by the female bed bug is about 1 mm, one individual hatches from one egg.

Males and females

The number of males and females in populations is approximately the same, but there are differences in appearance. Females are slightly larger than males and have a much more rounded body in the back. Whereas males are slightly smaller than females, and their body is pointed towards the end.

Eggs and larvae

Bed bug eggs look like small grains of rice. In some cases, they have small dents along the long side. The size is about 1 mm. The color is white, sometimes with a pearly sheen. On one side they have a hole through which the insect subsequently hatches.

With the help of a secret, they are perfectly attached to vertical surfaces. The egg also contains a special component, which, coupled with a strong shell, makes the larva almost invulnerable to mechanical damage, poisons and temperature. That is why it is very important to process the masonry with a specialized composition and with special care.

Small bugs

Newly hatched specimens are much lighter than adults – they are light, almost yellow. Their size increases by 1 mm after each meal – 1 time in 1-2 weeks. Then the shedding occurs. The discarded chitin remains in the nests; it is not transferred anywhere by insects and is not used.

Differences from other species

Domestic bed bugs, in comparison with others, are quite small (from 4 to 8 mm) and not so diverse in their coloration (adults – from brown to black, young ones – from yellow to light brown ). They are easier to confuse with a small cockroach than with a wild relative.

Bed bug bites

What they look like

Bed bug bites look like small redness with swelling and swelling, with a pronounced center – a bump. Arranged “paths” – one after the other. Most often on the human body, bites can be found on the neck, shoulders, back, ribs and legs. Animal bodies are best examined in their entirety.

Biting process

The insect spreads its proboscis, which is usually pressed against the abdomen, and pierces the skin with the help of piercing bristles. During the bite, the insect injects the victim with a substance that temporarily numbs the area of ​​​​the bite so as not to be detected. In the process of feeding, the bug moves along the body and makes 5-7 bites every 3-5 cm, each time sucking out an insignificant part of the blood. The duration of one feeding of the bug is from 3 to 10 minutes, if nothing disturbs it.

Do bedbugs bite?

No. The bug “takes care” of itself and its victim by injecting an anesthetic compound during the bite.

How fast do they pass?

Usually the bites of these insects disappear within 5-7 days. If irritation and swelling does not go away for a longer time, there is a danger of an allergy and you should seek medical help.

Why bites are dangerous

For adults

Usually, for adults, bed bug bites are more dangerous from an aesthetic and psychological point of view, if there is no predisposition to allergies. Despite the fact that bedbugs are carriers of diseases, they cannot transmit them during a bite.

Biting irritation in adults can contribute to insomnia and irritability, but nothing more.

For children

A feature of the harmful effects of bedbug bites on newborns and young children is the possibility of anemia, in addition to the problems that bites cause in adults.

Allergy

Allergy to bedbug bites can be life-threatening for the bitten. If you have even the slightest suspicion of developing an allergy to the resulting bite or are predisposed to it, seek medical help immediately.

Signs of allergy to bed bug bites:

1. Bite spot more than 1 cm in diameter
2. Trail lasts more than seven days
3. Rash develops
4. Itching and irritation became unbearable

Treatment of bed bug bites

Bites can be treated with folk remedies, as well as with the help of medicines purchased at a pharmacy. All of them will be aimed at reducing itching, swelling and restoring the skin.

Medical supplies

1. Rescuer Balm
2. “Bepanthen”
3. Gektor Gel
4. Psilo Balm
5. Epidel
6. Erythromycin ointment
7. “Fenistil-gel”
8. Cycaderma

Traditional medicine

1. Ice application
2. Rubbing with rubbing alcohol
3. Attaching a cut half of an onion
4. Lotions from decoction of chamomile and St. John’s wort, crushed fresh mint leaves

Please note that folk remedies are a great way to temporarily solve the problem if medicines are out of reach, but they are not able to replace them.

Life cycle of bed bugs

The process of development and life span of a bed bug consists of three stages:

1. Egg – 4-5 days
2. Larva – up to 30-35 days
3. Adult insect – up to 400 days

In the absence of food and the ambient temperature drops below +5°C, adults are able to fall into a state of suspended animation and live without food for up to 1 year or more. At an ambient temperature of more than + 50 ° C, adults, larvae and eggs die. Under adverse conditions, the development process can slow down and be up to 100 days before becoming an adult. This provides the insects with their extreme survivability.

Reproduction

Bed bugs reproduce in the adult stage. A female is capable of laying up to 5 eggs per day; for the entire life cycle, one female lays from 250 to 500 eggs.

Where can bed bugs hide?

Bed bug habitats are easy to find. All waste products and accumulations of the insects themselves are clearly visible upon close examination. You can find bedbugs where it is dark, dry and warm:

• In furniture: in slots and grooves, folds of linen and upholstery, mattresses, on bookshelves
• In walls and floors: under skirting boards, wallpaper, wooden window sills, paintings

Summing up, we can conclude that household bed bugs are moderately dangerous insects (don’t forget about allergies and small children!), With an extremely high survival rate and ability to reproduce.