SEPTEMBER 2023

Interview with a tick

Join us for an exclusive interview with a tick, also known as a garapata! Today, we'll learn more about the lives and preferences of these creatures. Let's explore the fascinating world of ticks!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS QUICKLY?
Certainly! Hello, everyone. I'm a tick; you might have seen some of my relatives before. We're social creatures and can be found in many places, including on your pets! Not many people know this, but we're related to spiders and scorpions, and we have eight legs, which help us move around and hide quickly if needed.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR APPEARANCE TO READERS WHO HAVEN'T MET A TICK BEFORE?
Allow me to introduce myself to those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting a tick before. I have a small head, which should not be mistaken for a lack of intelligence; it's simply more compact up there. With eight legs and a sleek oval body, I measure approximately 2.5mm long - quite impressive for a male tick my age! However, it's worth noting that female ticks tend to be larger since they expand when they feed. My dear wife can grow from 3mm to 10mm after a satisfying meal! As for my color, I tend to sport a dark black hue when unfed. However, I take on a nice brown-grey shade after a hearty meal. My fellow tick companions come in shades of brown and may even transform into salmon pink or purple after feeding.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR?
I enjoy the climate all year long, as it's perfect for ticks like me. It's warm with plenty of moisture in the air, and that's when my friends and I love to be really active.

WHERE DO YOU AND YOUR TICK FRIENDS LIKE TO HANG OUT?
Like other ticks, I know the dangers of direct sunlight, which can quickly dehydrate us. We seek refuge in areas with long grass and dense vegetation. Woodland environments are particularly appealing to us ticks, as there is always an ample supply of leaves and pieces of bark to provide shelter and shade.

I prefer to hang out with my tick buddies in the local park. It's an ideal spot with its grassy areas and bushes, offering plenty of hiding places. The best part is that finding a meal is a breeze, thanks to the dogs and cats that frequent the park.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
I love perching on a blade of grass or the edge of a leaf with my friends, waiting for animals or people to brush past. Hitching a ride and having a meal at the same time is quite an adventure!

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?
Blood is my favorite food, which I get from feeding on hosts like mammals and birds. I feed for a few days and then drop off the host once I'm full.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU DISLIKE?
FRONTLINE^® Plus products are my number one dislike! They're toxic for ticks, and many pets wear them these days! They can kill us within 48 hours of contact without giving us a chance for a final meal. I've heard of many fellow ticks falling victim to FRONTLINE^® Plus. I've also heard that many pet owners are on a mission to hunt us down. They're searching online for information on how to kill ticks on dogs, how to remove a tick from a dog, tick treatment for dog, etc! We are being hunted!

I also dislike pet owners who regularly groom their cats and dogs with nasty combs and brushes that can easily decapitate us! Some even use special tick and flea removers to twist our flea cousins and us out of our spots. Ouch!

ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE, WHAT DO YOU LIKE?
I love warm, humid weather, especially when pets aren't treated with FRONTLINE^® Plus. I also like those home remedies for fleas and ticks that do not really protect long-term.

WHAT ARE THE DOWNSIDES OF BEING A TICK?
Sadly, some ticks, including myself, can carry harmful infections that we can pass onto our hosts while feeding. This can cause serious diseases like ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease and canine babesiosis. It's not something I'm proud of, as all we want is a meal.

Thank you for your time today. Have a safe journey back to your park.