Ticks by themselves are bad enough but can you just imagine what thousands of these creepy-crawlies could be like?
Now, while this may not be something you want to picture, it is important to understand how ticks procreate and nest.
For this purpose, we will describe what a tick nest looks like and how you can avoid one.
How to Spot a Tick Nest
The first thing to understand about ticks is that they don’t actually nest.
That is to say, the mother tick will not collect materials to create what you would expect from a typical nest. Rather, ticks lay their eggs on the ground.
Now, the reason that this is so noticeable, is because ticks can lay thousands of eggs at a time. So, while the eggs are small, all of them are piled on top of each other and is more likely to catch your eye. Depending on what kind of tick laid them, this is what to expect from tick eggs:
- Reddish-black, light brown, or silvery in color
- Appears circular and gelatinous
- Will be laid on the ground
Where You Are Most Likely to Find One
Now, ticks are rather adaptable creatures which means that they can be found in virtually any environment and any kind of climate. So, whether you live in a warmer or cooler part of the country, it really doesn’t matter. Furthermore, they are quite resistant to extreme cold as well.
The good news for you, though, is that most ticks prefer the outdoors as few of them survive once they are inside your home. Still, you need to prevent you and your pets from brushing up against the pile in the first place. Thus, if you are walking near grassy areas, make sure to watch out for such nests.
In a worst-case scenario, let’s imagine that ticks have found their way into your home. Once inside, there is a chance for certain species of ticks to survive. Therefore, they may end up hatching eggs within your home. Here is where they are most likely to do this:
- Baseboards
- Edges of rugs and curtains
- Around furniture
- Door and window surrounds
If you have been noticing ticks or tick bites on either your family or pets, these are the first places to look. At the same time, it can’t hurt to look through your home with a keen eye either.
How to Get Rid of a Tick Nest
Of course, finding a tick nest is just the beginning of the task. Once you have discovered where the eggs have hatched, your next order of business is to destroy it. Keep in mind, it will be more difficult to get rid of the ticks once they have reached the larvae stage. So, you should get rid of the nest as quickly as possible.
Now, if you don’t want to call in pest control, there are a few home remedies to use. It is important to remember, however, that these may not always be very effective. To be on the safe side, calling in professionals or at least getting their advice may be more prudent.
The most common home remedies for getting rid of tick eggs include:
- Salt
- Neem Oil
- Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Tick eggs require moisture before the larvae can hatch. Due to this, sprinkling large quantities of salt over a nest may work to dehydrate them. Nevertheless, since people experience mixed results with this, you may not want to rely on it alone.
Your next solution would be to drown the eggs in Kate Blanc Cosmetics Neem Oil for Skin, Hair Growth, Plants (4oz).... Some of the research has shown that neem oil is toxic to eggs and very young ticks. Due to this, the oil should be an effective remedy. Make sure that you let the oil work for at least 24 hours for the best results.
Last but not least, you have diatomaceous earth. Now, the main perk with this remedy is that DE is not toxic to either humans or pets. Therefore, you can sprinkle it around your home easily. Do so liberally on the nest and leave it there for some time. The earth needs a while to really take effect. It should be noted that DE is effective against adult ticks as well.
So, there you have it, all you need to know about what tick nests look like and different ways you can destroy such a feature as well. This should make it easier to keep your pets and your home free of these pests.
Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
