Loudoun County Master Gardeners

Seasonal Alerts

Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases

There are 3 types of ticks commonly found in Virginia: the American Dog Tick, the Lone Star Tick, and the Black Legged (Deer) Tick.

American Dog Tick 

About 1/4 inch long unfed, 1/2 inch long after feeding.

Lone Star Tick

About 1/8 inch long, females have white spot in center of back. Because they are similar in size, the Lone Star Tick is sometimes misidentified as the Blacklegged or deer tick.

Black Legged or Deer Tick

About the size of a sesame seed.

Both the lone star tick and the American dog tick are potential carriers of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). Transmission season for RMSF is April-September. The deer tick is a potential vector of Lyme disease and has been implicated in the transmission of ehrlichiosis. Transmission season for Lyme disease is May-July. In any case of suspected tick transmitted disease, consult with a physician.

Links

http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2906/2906-1396/2906-1396.html 

From VT pub, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever info, good photos

http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=726 

From Loudoun Co Gov., Lyme disease in Loudoun Co.

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DEE/Vectorborne/PolycomPresentations/ 2005/Ticks%20as%20Disease%20Vectors.pdf

From VA Dept. of Health, 29 pages, comprehensive, includes information on Babesiosis, Tularemia, and Erhlichiosis, maps, life cycles.

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/StopTicks/  

From CDC, unique information about reducing ticks in your yard.