Tick an Abiding but Manageable Pest

            Blake Dinius, entomologist and educator with the Plymouth County Cooperative Extension, knows a thing or two about insects, especially ticks and mosquitoes. He has been educating the public since 2017 on ways to minimize exposure to biting bugs that carry dangerous and infectious pathogens. However, while such biting insects do pose big problems for us humans, Dinius’ clear yet simple guidance of ways to protect oneself from harm are reassuring.

            On July 8, Dinius gave a presentation at a program hosted at the Mattapoisett Public Library and sponsored by the Mattapoisett Land Trust. On hand to add to the discussion were MLT president Mike Huguenin and Collen Andrews, MLT’s community engagement and stewardship manager.

            Dinius began by stating that there are some 10 different types of ticks, but in the local area, the primary disease carrier is the deer tick. He dispelled the notion that Lyme disease, reemerging and identified as a separate, infectious bacterium in the mid-1970s in Lyme, Connecticut, is a new disease. He notes that studies of the Borrelia bacteria date it back several tens of thousands of years.

            Another interesting fact Dinius shared was that about 150 animals play host to ticks that randomly find their way to their preferred traveling restaurants, deer, chipmunks, moles and the like, but birds are a primary carrier.

“Of the 150 animals that can spread ticks around, 82 of those are birds,” said Dinius. When asked if people should stop feeding birds and encouraging them into gardens with food, he responded, “You don’t need to change your lifestyle, you just need to protect yourself.”

            Regarding how best to manage modern-day, residential landscapes to protect against tick bites, Dinius said that dead-leaf piles are a primary habitat for ticks. He said ticks survive in moist, dark locations versus bright, open, manicured lawns. He suggested leaving a perimeter of wooded area for those gardeners wishing to encourage pollinators into their yards while still having groomed areas.

            On the topic of repellents and sprays, Dinius said that yard sprays are very effective against ticks but far less effective in controlling mosquitos. Sprays are most effective when used twice; once in May and again in June is all that is required, he said.

            Another tactic people should employ for personal protection are sprays that are applied to clothing, including shoes. He said that people do not have to be fearful of using sprays that contain DEET and that the chemical picaridin can withstand numerous washings before it must be reapplied for successful protection.

            Huguenin said that given the amount of time he spends outside in wooded areas, it is imperative that he spray his clothing with picaridin. There are precautions for using picaridin around cats, Dinius stated.

            Once you have returned indoors from outdoor activities where ticks live, Dinius said completely checking one’s body for attached ticks is imperative.

            Removing ticks using tweezers is the correct method, not Vaseline or hot, burnt match heads, Dinius said. He also recommended conserving the tick after removal so it can be tested for the presence of disease (contact tickreport.com.) But possibly the most striking (or sickening) data point Dinius shared was the anatomy of the tick itself.

            Dinius explained that ticks do not burrow under the skin; instead, they stab their host with a straw-like tube that constitutes its head area. From this tube, various nasty chemicals such as anticoagulants and bacteria are “spit” into the wound site. The process of continuous spitting into the head tube, thus into the victim keeps the food source, blood, flowing.

            While it is generally believed that the head of the tick must also be removed, Dinius said that is not the case. “Once the body has been removed, the tube can’t do anything.” He said that even medical experts still believe the head must be removed.

            Cold-weather seasons do not provide relief from these small but mighty predators. In literature provided by Plymouth County Cooperative Extension was the note that ticks are active as long as the temperature stays above freezing.

            There is a wide variety of resources available online to help educate and protect people who spend time sharing the outside with these tiny opportunists. Dinius may be reached at bdinius@plymouthcounty.gov or mass.gov/mosquitoesandticks or by calling 774-773-3404.

By Marilou Newell