What type of tick lyme disease

In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny less than 2 mm and difficult to see; they feed during the spring and summer months. Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but they are much larger and are more likely to be discovered and removed before they have had time to transmit the bacteria.

Adult Ixodes ticks are most active during the cooler months of the year. While questing, ticks hold onto leaves and grass by their lower legs. They hold their upper pair of legs outstretched, waiting to climb onto a passing host.

When a host brushes the spot where a tick is waiting, it quickly climbs aboard. It then finds a suitable place to bite its host. The lifecycle of blacklegged ticks Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus generally lasts two years. During this time, they go through four life stages: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult. After the eggs hatch, the ticks must have a blood meal at every stage to survive.

Blacklegged ticks can feed from mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The ticks need to have a new host at each stage of their life, as shown below:. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Lyme Disease. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. Relative sizes of blacklegged ticks at different life stages. In general, adult ticks are approximately the size of a sesame seed and nymphal ticks are approximately the size of a poppy seed.

Are there other ways to get Lyme disease? Ticks thrive in damp environments and are less active in hot, dry weather.

Nymphal ticks cause most cases of Lyme disease. Adult ticks can also infect humans, but are easier to spot and remove. Not all ticks are infected. Because tick studies have only been done in a relatively few places, in most of the US, tick infection rates are unknown.

Even in places where ticks generally do not carry Lyme, there may be hotspots of infection depending on local conditions. The tick infection rate may also change from year to year, even in one location. To get a better idea of which tick-borne diseases have been found in your area, check this site. Adult ticks feed and mate primarily on deer. You may also find adult ticks on dogs, horses and other domesticated animals. Nymphs feed primarily on smaller animals. These include squirrels, mice, lizards, rabbits, and birds that feed on the ground.

Migratory birds help distribute ticks throughout the country. Learn more about the types of ticks. Support LymeDisease. Ask your questions here. Home Member Login Join. Search LDo. Donate Now. Lyme disease ticks can be found in:. Learn more about preventing encounters with ticks that carry Lyme disease on our prevention page. If you find a tick, it is important to send it to a tick testing lab to test for pathogens.

Get our list of labs. While Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness, ticks may carry multiple infectious organisms. Learn about the most common tick-borne diseases. Disclaimer: The above material is provided for information purposes only.

The material a is not nor should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor b does it necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of Global Lyme Alliance, Inc.

Global Lyme Alliance, Inc. Search What are you looking for? Home About Lyme Disease. Ticks are small crawling bugs that have eight legs and are related to spiders and mites. They are arachnids, not insects. Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of humans and animals in order to survive.

They are called vectors carriers because they can feed on a Lyme disease-infected animal such as a mouse , then carry and transmit the Lyme bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi to the next animal or person they bite. Which Ticks Carry Lyme Disease?

Tick Life Cycle: Ticks generally live two to three years and have a four-stage life cycle.