Of all the spray programs at Groundhog Turf Care, our tick control services are perhaps the most important, because this insect feeds on people!
According to the Center for Disease Control, Lyme disease is now the most common vector-borne infection in humans in the United States. New Hampshire now has the highest incidence of Lyme disease in the country and rural towns like Bedford and Windham are no exception. Much of this is due to the high concentration of tick populations and residential homes surrounded by ideal tick habitats.
Where does Lyme disease come from? The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), also known as the deer tick, is the second-most common type of tick in New Hampshire, and is the primary transmitter of Lyme disease. It is most common in the southeast, throughout particularly in Rockingham, Hillsborough and Strafford counties. The incidents of Lyme disease in this region are also highest in the state.
The blacklegged tick has 3 active life stages – larva, nymph and adult – who will feed on a variety hosts; but the larvae feed almost exclusively on the white-footed mouse. This is where the Lyme disease comes from. The second stage of the deer tick – the nymph – is the one most likely to bite humans. This makes them especially dangerous because, after feeding on mice, the nymph tick is infected and has become a carrier of Lyme disease.
Get them where they live. Timing and targeting is everything when it comes to effective tick control. Our tick services spray those areas where the tick is most likely hiding, depending on its life cycle. In early spring, when the nymphs are active, we are concentrating on structures near the house – decks, foundations, and plantings. In late spring, after trees have leafed out, we are targeting foliage areas and low-lying deciduous shrubs in perimeter areas. Adult ticks are active in the fall. Our technicians will be targeting the areas of the yard where the adults may seek to lay their eggs.
Are you concerned about ticks in your landscape? Call Groundhog Turf Care today for a free landscape evaluation and quote to make your yard a “tick-free zone!”