Question
Dear Jim,

I recently moved from Gainesville, FL to Tampa, FL. My dog used to get some ticks (mainly deer ticks) when we lived in Gainesville, but I was able to stop them by keeping him out of the woods.

Now that we are in Tampa, he seems to be infested with them. In the last 2 weeks, I have found 10+ ticks on him and it is alarming. They are a different type than I have seen before- very small, like the size of a pin head. I have found the alive crawling on him, attached with the head in him, and dead on his bedding.

My father used to work for a pest control company 30 years ago and said it might be the apartment I moved into. It has new carpet and it only around 5yrs old- could it be infested? If so, is there pest control that will kill them and any egg sacks?

Thank you for your assistance!!
Allison

Answer
There are two families of ticks: hard ticks and soft ticks.

They have four stages in their life: egg, larva, nymph and adult.

Mating usually occurs while adult ticks are on the body of the host animal.

The female then drops to the ground and deposits her eggs.

When they are at the larvae stage they are called "seed ticks" with six legs. They attach themselves to a host, after receiving a blood meal, they drop to the ground and emerge as eight legged nymphs.

BROWN DOG TICK

This is the most widely distributed ticks in the world.

It is unusual among ticks, in that it can complete its entire life cycle indoors.

Because of this, it can establish populations in colder climates, and has been found in many different climates.

Brown dog ticks can be found outdoors in the southern USA during any time of the year,but found active outdoors during the warm months in the northern USA.

This tick cannot over winter in the more northern United States except within a heated structure.

Description:
It is small, red-brown in color, uniform in color. Its mouthparts are easily seen when viewed from above. The body is flattened and shaped like a tear drop.

Habits
Many tick species can be carried indoors on animals, but cannot complete their entire life cycle inside.

Dogs are the preferred host in the US . The adults attach to the ears and between the toes, and the larvae and nymphs are often found in hair along the back, however are not restricted to these parts.

Once an infestation occurs inside a home, it can grow very rapidly. Typically, a few ticks are brought into the house or from an infested kennel, open field or other place where infested dogs have been located.

After the ticks have engorged on a blood meal, they drop form the host and seek some protected situation in the immediate surroundings.

For this reason, they may be found behind baseboards, under window and door moldings, in window pulley openings, or in furniture.
All cracks and crevices in an infested premise must be treated for good control. All tick life stages may be found behind baseboards, around window an door moldings, or in furniture. Newly hatched larvae can climb, so all cracks and crevices need to be treated.

A home can become infest if the family dog picks up ticks from an infested residence, boarding kennel, open fields, or similar place where other infested dogs have been located.

Another infested dog may visit the residence, during which time some ticks may drop off. In this case, the home and yard may become infested even though a dog is not generally kept there.

Dogs do not become infested with brown dog ticks by direct contact with other dogs.

Ticks feeding on a dog drop off and molt before they will resume host-seeking behavior and attach to another dog.

TICK CONTROL:
1. The infested house and/or kennel should be thoroughly cleaned in order to eliminate as many ticks as possible. Vacuuming is very helpful inside. Pet bedding and pet areas should be cleaned well.

2. Kennels, dog houses, and structures occupied by pets should be thoroughly treated to control ticks that have dropped off the dog and that reside in harborage areas.
Residual insecticide sprays and dusts should be applied carefully to all potential tick harborage areas.

Ticks like to reside in the upper portions of structures in cracks and crevices and the areas used by dogs.

Recommended residual insecticides inside would be Bifen IT or Conquer

Non residual space sprays that contain Pyrethrins such as Clear Zone may be useful to supplement the residual sprays. It may used on a daily basis and is a contact killer.

Recommended dust would be:

Drione Dust(for pet bedding) or Delta Dust-in cracks and crevices . Infested pet bedding should be washed.

For he pets:
The dog must be treated with a product labeled for ticks. Products such as Frontline(contain Fipronil) or products containing Permethrin should be used. You can find these products at your pet shop or veterinarian.

For the outside: Bifen IT , Permethrin SFR,  Conquer,  should be applied to grassy and bushy areas near the house or kennel, the edges of lawns and gardens, under porches, and other areas where the dog travels or spends time. It is usually not necessary to treat the entire yard. One way to determine the extent and locations of tick presence is by using a white cloth such as a pillow case. Drag it along the grass, and brush it up onto foliage. Stop to check the presence of the ticks. Shrubbery up to a height of 2-3 feet should be sprayed. Non chemical methods of treatment include keeping the grass mowed, removal of bushy areas and fencing to keep deer away.

It may take a professional pest control person to handle a large tick problem. If so I would get one that will grantee the results.