The warm weather means more time spent outdoors. More time spent outdoors means the higher your chances are of coming into contact with ticks, especially in the Hudson Valley. Bug sprays and other tick repellents for humans or pets are a popular means of prevention. But, an even better way to protect you and your family, is to spray for ticks in your yard. When treating your property for ticks, it is important to first understand their lifecycle to know when the best and most effective time for treatment is.
Deer ticks are the carriers of harmful diseases like Lyme and other tick-borne pathogens.
A deer tick’s lifecycle occurs over the span of a year.- Beginning in March, and continuing through April, adult ticks are laying eggs.
- One adult deer tick can lay up to 2,000 eggs.
- Several weeks later, the larvae will emerge and need to feed.
- After feeding, they shed into nymphs.
- The main source for food for ticks in the larvae stage are mice.
- Once in the nymph stage, deer ticks are more likely to feed on larger mammals like dogs and humans. At this stage, they are also extremely small, which can make them hard to spot.
- Fall is when the nymph deer tick transforms into an adult and will prepare for reproduction that begins the cycle again.
How To Spray For Ticks In Your Yard:
- Prior to spraying, your pest prevention specialist will first run some tests, and evaluate how high the concentration of ticks is on your property.
- Spray for ticks is typically sprayed around the perimeter of your property.
When Is The Best Time To Spray For Ticks?:
Tick treatment typically begins in spring since this is when female ticks are laying eggs.- It is important to wait until the snow has melted and the ground is dried-out, usually making May the ideal time.
- Tick treatment in your yard is most effective when continued into summer and fall to help kill ticks at all stages of their lives, and before reproduction begins.
- The idea is to eliminate ticks before they are able to lay eggs, which would decrease the population next spring.
- Adult deer ticks are dormant during freezing temperatures. They will often find shelter in leaf litter or brush close to the ground where they can find warmth. Treating in spring can help to eliminate the adult survivors and help to eliminate eggs that were deposited in leaf litter.
An estimated 3/4ths of all Lyme disease cases occur during outdoor activities around the home. Often when we discuss our strategy to spray for ticks in a homeowner’s yard, there is a fear of spreading toxic repellents to children and pets that is more dangerous than these ticks. But, at Red Cedar, we ensure that we are using the most organic and non-toxic insect and pest applications available to us. We can help to put together the most effective and safe tick prevention and control plan specific to your needs and your property. Now is the time to spray for ticks in your yard. Contact us today for your free consultation!