Tick bites are usually not painful, but they can lead to infections and even chronic diseases, such as Lyme. When you don't know if you are dealing with a tick infestation, look for the particular characteristics that distinguish these parasites from others. Ticks must be eliminated early to avoid disease and infection, while some very similar insects are harmless. If after reading the article you still have doubts, call an exterminator and ask for their professional opinion.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Look for the Distinguishing Characteristics of the Ticks
Step 1. Look for a round and oval shape
Before a tick swells with blood, the body has an oval shape with two main segments. When it is swollen, the head will remain small, while the body will become round and full.
Step 2. Look for insects between 1 and 5 cm long
The size of a tick depends on how recently it has fed on blood. Before eating, it is great when a pin point. Immediately after sucking the blood and for the next few hours, it becomes the size of a bean.
Step 3. Examine the exterior for a protective exoskeleton
In many cases, ticks have a rigid exoskeleton. These ticks are referred to as hard or "genuine" and are the parasites commonly referred to as "ticks". Soft ticks with flexible exoskeletons exist, but only in some parts of the world.
Soft ticks are found in the western United States and southwestern Canada
Step 4. Look for a star-shaped design on his back
Amblyomma americanum ticks have a white star-shaped pattern on the exoskeleton. If a parasite does not have this characteristic, it can still be a tick. The drawing is a peculiarity of this unique species.
Step 5. Notice if the insect has black legs
Black-legged ticks, as the name suggests, have legs that are darker than the body. As in the case of the star pattern, it is a distinctive feature of this tick species and is not present in all specimens of this family.
Method 2 of 3: Distinguish Ticks from Other Insects
Step 1. Avoid confusing insects with tick wings or antennae
Ticks have neither wings nor antennae. If you've found an insect with those characteristics, it's not a tick. If so, do research on tick-like species with wings or antennae.
Weevils, which are often mistaken for ticks, have wings and antennae
Step 2. Count the number of legs to distinguish them from insects
Since ticks are arachnids, like spiders and scorpions, they have eight legs. If the animal you see is 6, it is an insect and not a tick.
If the animal has fewer than six legs or more than eight, it is not an insect or an arachnid, but in any case it is not a tick
Step 3. Notice if the insect feeds on blood and does not travel in colonies
Weevils are often confused with ticks because they have an almost identical appearance. The way to tell them apart is to observe them. The former move in swarms, while ticks usually are alone. In addition, ticks feed on blood, while weevils do not.
As a general rule, weevils do not attach themselves to people and animals, while ticks often do
Step 4. Look for insects that sink into the skin instead of staying on the surface
Both ticks and bedbugs attach themselves to animals and humans. However, they feed differently. Ticks penetrate the skin and drink the blood, while bedbugs remain on the surface of the skin.
Make sure you know for sure whether an insect is a tick or a bedbug before removing it from the skin. Without the right precautions, you could detach the tick's body and leave the head in the skin
Method 3 of 3: Recognizing Tick Bites
Step 1. Notice if you feel mild pain around the bite
Tick bites are usually not painful. If you feel severe pain, you probably haven't been affected by one of these parasites. Research your other symptoms to determine which insect or arachnid hit you and start treatment right away.
If you are bitten by a soft tick, you may notice localized pain as it comes off
Step 2. Notice if the affected area is red
While tick bites aren't painful, they can still trigger the body's immune response. If the bite and the skin around it look red to you, you may have been bitten by a tick. However, be aware that redness is a symptom of many insect bites.
Step 3. Notice if irritation develops in the days and weeks following the bite
Although this is a symptom that doesn't often show up with tick bites, you can develop an irritation if the wound becomes infected or if you contract a disease. If irritation spreads from the bitten area to other parts of the body, call your doctor or go to the emergency room.
Some tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, can remain asymptomatic for months or years
Step 4. Look for ticks still attached to the body
Since the bites of these arachnids usually don't hurt, the most common way to notice them is to see the tick stuck in the skin. Compare the parasite on your body to other insects before removing it, so you can use tweezers or a credit card to safely tear it off the skin. If you're not careful, the tick's head can get stuck in your body.
Step 5. Recognize the symptoms of a tick bite that require immediate medical attention
Most bites can be treated at home, but you may need emergency care if you develop an infection or allergic reaction. Go to the emergency room right away if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Red bumps (hives) all over the body.
- Breathing problems.
- Swelling in the mouth, lips, tongue or throat.
- Dizziness, fainting or loss of consciousness.
Advice
- To prevent tick infestations, cut grass, prune bushes and all other plants. These arachnids prefer dark, leafy areas.
- Remove ticks from your body as soon as possible to prevent infections and disease transmission.
