Ticks are arthropods, which are invertebrate animals belonging to the phylum of Anthropoda. Invertebrate animals have outward skeletons, or external, along with jointed legs like spiders and many insects have. This could also apply to the crustaceans, such as crabs or lobsters. Ticks, insects, spiders, and crustaceans all belong to the same phylum called Anthropoda, as referred to earlier.
Ticks are not a spider or crustacean, they are actually a mite. It’s a brain twister to a certain degree because all ticks are mites, but not all mites are ticks. Exactly what is a mite, if ticks are mites? A mite is a very small arachnid. There are many kinds of arachnids. Some live in the dirt, or soil, and other kinds might live on animals and plants as parasites. All ticks are parasites. They are what are known as an external parasite. Some mites and parasites are internal, they feed from the inside, but the tick is only a surface threat when it comes to feeding.
The tick only has the capacity of using their mouth parts to enter the skin, unlike an internal parasite. In order for the ticks to make eggs they must have something to feed on. Human and animal blood is what they feed on.
Ticks can be divided into two types, hard ticks and soft ticks. Soft ticks have a softer outward covering and feed much quicker than the hard shelled ticks. There are many kinds of ticks and not all pose a threat to human beings.

Ticks generally live outside. It would be very rare to hear of an infestation of ticks in an indoor environment. Brown dog ticks have been known to lay their eggs inside, but it is not something that is very common. Most ticks like wooded and grassy areas, and this is why you find ticks catching a ride as you come in from the woods or places with plants and bushes. All you have to do is brush against a plant, tree branch, or bush for a tick to latch on to you. Moist and humid places, with weeds, are some of their favorite places to hang out.
The Lone Star tick and the American dog tick actually lay their eggs in the dirt, or soil. That is their favorite place. A lot of people would say that ticks live on their hosts such as animals or people. This is not necessarily true. Even though they can spend quite some time feeding on you they eventually let go, when they are done, and will detach only to find another host to feed on later. In between feedings, when the tick lets go of you (as mentioned earlier), they will molt. Molting is where they shed their outer skins, almost like a snake. As soon as they get done molting, off they will go looking for another victim to feed on. Yes, ticks definitely like living outdoors but will gladly catch a ride on you to the indoors.

The common Dog Tick lives anywhere South of the Rocky Mountains and on certain areas of the Pacific Coast. The Black Legged Tick lives in the upper Midwest and the North Eastern area of the United States. The Lone Star tick lives in the Eastern and Southeastern section of the United States.
The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick lives in elevations over 4’000 feet and up to 10’000 feet. You can find these in Southwestern Canada and the Rocky Mountain states. The main facts about Arizona and ticks are as follows.
Most Common Tick – The most common tick in Arizona is the Brown Dog Tick. It is responsible for spreading the bacteria that causes RMSF (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever). This tick is found throughout the United States.
Most Common Tick Borne Disease – The most heard of disease in Arizona associated with ticks is The Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It is caused by a tick bite carrying the virus of R. Rickettsii. In order to catch this, the infected tick has to be latched on to you, or feeding from your blood for more than 10 hours, and then you still might not get it. It is replaced in Colorado (bordering state of Arizona) by the Colorado Tick Fever.
The well-known Lyme Disease most often occurs in the Eastern United States. Do a careful study and find out what kinds of ticks live in your area, and the diseases associated with them so you will be prepared and aware.

Ticks cannot actually create damage to your home, but they can certainly harm you as a person. Ticks carry diseases. Some of the diseases you should be concerned about are as follows:
Lyme Disease – Lyme disease can possibly cause long term damage in the form of arthritis, neurological, and cardiac disorders.
Ehrichiosis – Ehrichiosis is a bacterial disease usually caused from the bite of the Lone Star tick. It causes flu like symptoms and is easily treatable. Serious cases may require hospitalization.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever – Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is caused by the “Rickettsii” organism that ticks can carry. This high fever inflicted by ticks can cause long term damage to your kidneys and heart if left untreated.
Tularemia- Tularemia is caused by the bacterium “Francisella Tularensis”. Humans and animals can get it. It is often spread through ticks, rodents, birds, and deer flies. Tularemia is very rare but can be life threatening if not treated with the proper antibiotics.
You will know you are sick if you get any of these bacteria and will most likely seek medical attention. In this day and age most everything is caught in time, so you do not have to worry.
You will need a medical diagnosis to confirm any of these diseases carried by ticks if you feel you might be infected. Tick bites are definitely no joking matter. The professional medical personnel will tell you what to do and how to treat the damage caused by these diseases and a tick bite.

If you are bitten by ticks or even receive one tick bit, you should take it very seriously. The good thing is it usually takes some time to catch a disease from a tick bite. Anytime you come in from the outdoors or wilds it is best to completely examine your body for ticks. The same goes for children and pets. Usually you will feel a tick crawling on you, or an itch where it is biting. But what do you do if you are bitten by a tick? Follow these instructions in three easy steps to remove a tick.
Tweezers to Remove Tick – Use a pair of tweezers, if you have some, to remove the tick from your skin. If you don’t have any tweezers on hand you will have to use your fingernails like tweezers. If it is unreachable (as on your back) you might need the assistance of a family member or friend. Wash site of bite with soap and water.
Save the Tick for Identification – Put the tick in an air-proof jar with a lid, or in a baggie (zip lock sandwich bag). The reason this is good is because if you should happen to get sick from a tick bite, you will be able to identify the tick that bit you.
Wash Your Hands – It is always good to wash your hands, especially after dealing with something that might involve bacteria.
In most cases, if treated properly and removed before 24 hours or so, you won’t have any problems if bitten by ticks.

It is practically unheard of to have ticks as an invasion on the interior of your home. You are very likely to have ticks in your yard or outdoors in the surrounding area where you live. Ticks can be brought in riding on your clothes, or using a pet as a host. Seed ticks are especially a problem when it comes to the indoors, and are hard to remove. Your legs or trousers can be completely covered with these. What are seed ticks and where do they come from? Seed ticks are actually the babies or larval of full grown ticks. It is very easy to carry this tick larval into your house. If you are having an indoor tick problem, it most likely began with seed ticks. It is a little trickier removing the larval of ticks than an occasional full sized tick.
You’ll know if you have a seed tick problem right outside your door as you and your visitors will be covered just coming from your car carrying groceries or whatever you need to do outside. Your visitors will say, “I don’t want to go over there, they have too many ticks.” What can you do if you already have this problem? If you live in the country, free range chickens will eat a lot of the ticks. This really isn’t feasible for most. The best thing to do is call a professional exterminator if you already have a tick problem and they will help you out of your dilemma.

Is there a way to keep ticks from invading your environment and yard area? As far as your home or business you usually do not have to worry about ticks invading it. It would be very uncommon for a tick to live or reproduce in your house or any indoor setting. Ticks live outdoors. It would be very easy, especially if you are in the country or a rural area, for ticks to invade your yard. If no one hardly ever leaves the premises of your well cut and maintained yard you will probably have no need for concern. Chances are if you live in the country or even near a state park, or other similar area, you will have a chance of ticks invading your environment.
They reproduce quickly and you, your child, or a beloved pet can carry these into your yard. It doesn’t even take a family member or pet to carry ticks into your yard. Wild animals can carry ticks into your yard while you are sleeping soundly in your bed. Mice, chipmunks, raccoons, and opossums are all hosts to ticks. Deer also have the possibility of spreading ticks as they move closer and closer to town in these modern days.
The best thing to do if you are getting invaded from ticks or need advice to prevent this, is to get hold of a reliable pest control treatment center and follow their expert advice.

Ticks are dangerous to your pets if they carry a disease that your pet can get and suffer from when bitten. It is very important to try, as best as you can, to keep your animals from getting a tick bite. Use the services of a professional exterminator to keep your yard free of ticks and fleas. Follow their professional advice to get through the seasons when ticks are the most active.
Usually what works in getting rid of fleas will also get rid of ticks. Use powders, shampoos, and collars on your pet to help protect them. Special preparations can be applied by your veterinarian that last for several months. In between your veterinarian and professional pest control you should have a pretty good handle in helping to protect them. What are some of the diseases your pet can get from ticks if you live in the United States?
Lyme Disease
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Ehrlichiosis
Tick Paralysis
These are to name only a few of the woes that ticks can give your pets. The sad thing is that your pet can also give these dreaded problems to you as a human, also. It doesn’t seem like humans would suffer from Tick Paralysis, but they can. It especially affects children. This is a very good reason doubled as to why it is so important to protect your pets from ticks and carrying them into your household. Ticks are definitely dangerous for your pets and their human family too.

Ticks are the most active anywhere that it is above freezing. In the geographical areas where ticks present a problem, they are usually active from March to November. When the weather is extremely warm, as in the dog days of summer they tend to be less active.
Ticks seem to disappear in the winter in some areas, and we forget they are around for a while. This is not always true because sometimes ticks stay warm in the cozy fur of their constantly moving hosts such as deer. It is true that after a tick has had its fill during feeding it will drop off and molt, but some varieties of ticks spend long periods of time on a single host. Many deer ticks are this way. You have seen how huge ticks can get on a dog when they are constantly feeding. One day, if they aren’t removed, they will just disappear. It is because they detach or fall off. After this, if the weather is warm enough, they will molt for a bit. If the temperature is freezing they most likely won’t be able to find another warm host and they will be lost in the snowy landscape.
To kill a tick completely the weather must be below 10 degrees Fahrenheit for several days. They just kind of hang in suspension with decreased activity during the winter. This accounts for the re- population as the weather gets warmer in the spring. Ticks are obviously the most active when the weather is warm.

Common hiding places for ticks are on old rotting wood in high bushes and forests. They like moist and humid environments. It may seem like they are hiding on your dog, but actually they are just feeding. As soon as they get their fill they will drop off and go into a molten stage.
Ticks do not actually hide, or run from the sound of a human or animal approaching. These living beings, who are their hosts, attract them as they feed on their blood. Many insects and flies will run away or fly away if they hear something walking towards them, or a quick movement is made. Certain living creatures such as ants and fruit flies seem oblivious to human noise and movements. The ticks are among this troupe.
Ticks have a whole little world which we are not part of except for feeding. They are parasites, and we are their hosts. If you wish to avoid ticks and where they live, try not to frequent the woods, or grassy fields. You do not encounter ticks in a town or city as much as you would in a rural or country setting.
As you walk through high bushes and weeds, sometimes even low grass, a tick can catch a ride in the cuff of your trousers. To avoid ticks and their seemingly hiding places and carrying them inside of your home, always make sure to check you and your family carefully after an out- door type adventure.

The birthing cycle of ticks is amazing. It is hard to believe that the adult female lays several thousand eggs at a time! If you have ever been walking in a field or somewhere similar, and looked down to find your pants’ legs covered with what seems a million seed ticks, you will have to know these are actually eggs that hatched. They are similar to maggots or larvae after a fly lays eggs. Many think that seed ticks are just a breed of ticks, but they are actually very tiny baby ticks. Next they will turn into nymphs, which are kind of like the children of ticks before they become adults.
It is hard to conceive that there are female and male when it comes to ticks, because they are so small. They have children and they have babies. The actual breeding takes place, usually, as the ticks are feeding on their host. After breeding they drop off to the ground where they lay their eggs. If you are having a tick problem it is understandable that they would all be hard to get rid of because the mother lays so many eggs at a time.

A tick inside on a hard floor or other area cannot survive without a host. Ticks can live anywhere from 3 months to 3 years depending upon what kind it is (this is in ideal conditions). The tick has to have a host to feed off of in order to complete the birthing cycle and lay eggs.

Ticks have evolved to become one of the most widely recognizable arthropod vectors with a history of passing disease as the word vector implies. There are approximately 840 discovered tick species on the earth known to man. The Tick is divided into two categories, hard and soft bodied. The hard bodied ticks are called “Ixodidae”, and the soft bodied ticks are called “Argasidae”. We normally encounter the hard bodied ticks or the Ixodidae Family. Ticks are ectoparasitic arthropods which feed on the blood of humans, animals, birds, and reptiles. Ectoparasitic means it is a parasite that feeds on the outside of its host.
There are also parasites that feed off of the inside of their host. As mentioned, the ticks do not feed off of the inside of their host as they are made so that only their mouth parts can bite on the surface. Ticks feed on blood and nothing else. They do this by using their “hypostome” to attach their feeding part to the skin of the human or animal they are feeding on. It is because of the hypostome that ticks are hard to get off of your skin, as they are firmly anchored in place as they feed. The hypostome is kind of like a harpoon. Ticks have to have hosts, such as humans and animals, to survive and complete the birthing cycle. The history of ticks is that of a human and animal pathogen and they play this role strongly.