Today, Biggy and I took Jack to LaGrange and dropped him off at band camp and then drove to Dausett Trails to ride our bikes. At some point during the ride, I noticed something crawling on my leg--a tick. Sick, sick, sick. I swiped it off but it landed on my other leg. I swiped it again, and it stuck to my glove. I shook and shook the glove, but it wouldn't budge, so I pulled off the glove and threw it as far away from me as I could. Then I started wondering how a tick can hop on me while I'm riding down a mountain. I mean, do they wait for you and jump out of trees? So, when I got home, I wiki'd it:
Physical contact is the only method of transportation for ticks. Ticks do not jump or fly, although they may drop from their perch and fall onto a host. Some species actively stalk the host by foot. Changes in temperature and day length are some of the factors signaling a tick to seek a host. Ticks can detect heat emitted or carbon dioxide respired from a nearby host.
4 comments:
The heat thing also works for where ticks "set up shop". I find most of the ticks, on my dogs, on the head or directly along the spine.....warmer area- more blood flow- easy lunch. About 90% of the little bastards are in these areas....and they get A LOT!
Gross.
Even after waiting weeks for a host, ticks can become active and drop off a stick, bush, limb by a whiff (in the parts per billion range) of butyric acid, a component of sweat. There is no escape but to ride faster.
EEEEEUUUUWWW!!
Thanks for the update on ticks, though. I know it's important info!
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