Tick Indentification: Hard Tick Vs. Soft Tick
October 16th, 2009 Posted in Spiders & Other Arachnids
Ticks are annoying little pests. They bite and scratch your skin to suck out your blood, making them one of the more unpleasant members of the insect world.
They’re over 200 species of ticks in the United States, but how can you tell the difference? Isn’t one minuscule bloodsucker the same as the next? Apparently, this is not the case.
This article will teach you:
Identification of Hard-Shelled Ticks
Part of the Ixodidae family, the hard tick has a tough exterior made of chitin. Hard ticks are much more commonplace, than that of the soft tick. The most common species of hard tick are the American dog tick, the deer tick, and the brown dog tick.
These ticks have a scutum, but the soft ticks do not. A scutum is the dorsal plate that covers the anterior part of the tick’s body. This is the primary difference between the two types of ticks.Their life cycle consists of larvae,nymph, and then adult. However, some species of hard tick only have one stage in their specie’s life cycle.
It takes several days for a hard tick to feed off its host. Hard ticks can sometimes burrow under their host’s skin for long periods of time. While a female hard tick is engorged, expanding 3 times their normal size, it will fall off its host to lay eggs.
The female hard tick will lay thousands of eggs and thus begin the process all over again. Hard ticks have been known to live for 2 years at most, and can go for months without consuming any blood.
Identification of Soft-Shelled Ticks
Known as part of the Argasidae family, they are named after their exoskeleton. It is a very soft exoskeleton that covers the body of a soft tick. The most well-known soft tick is the Spinose Ear Tick.
Found in the Southwestern part of the United States, they enjoy latching onto and feeding on ears. Soft ticks like living in cracks and crevices of caves, only emerging to feed. The head of a soft tick is very hard to see with the human eye, unlike the very visible head of the hard tick.
Instead of having a three part life cycle, the soft tick has several molting periods within each stage, until they hit adulthood. Soft ticks can feed intermittently, just like their hard-shelled brethren, going without blood for extended periods of time.
However, unlike the hard ticks, they do not remain attached after they eat. They prefer to feed many times from many different hosts, while the hard tick normally feeds from one host in their lifetime. In the end, the soft tick only lay about 300 to 500 eggs at a time.
Organic Pesticide Control
The best way to deal with both hard and soft ticks is by using EcoSMART’s organic pesticides. Environmentally friendly, the pesticide is safe and effective. No matter how big your tick problem is, EcoSMART is your solution for safe tick control.
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21 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By Mandi robison on Oct 23, 2009
this sounds great, love the organic part.
By Emma on Oct 23, 2009
So glad that it is Environmentally friendly
By Margo on Oct 23, 2009
Fostering dogs for rescue makes environmentally friendly pest control a must.
By Joel on Oct 23, 2009
“Ticks are annoying little pests. They bite and scratch your skin to suck out your blood, making them one of the more unpleasant members of the insect world.”
Ticks are actually arachnids, not insects!
By Liz on Oct 23, 2009
Of all the pests out there, ticks are one of the most worrisome to me, as Lyme Disease is something I hope never to experience.
By Leann Wing on Oct 23, 2009
It would be super to have a solution so my 9 pound pomeranian won’t have a reaction. I put the monthly drops on him, and a couple of times he’s had mini seizures. Thanks!
By Vicki on Oct 23, 2009
live in the country, would much rather use enviromentally friendly products on my animals thanks!
By james on Oct 24, 2009
wow 300-500 eggs?
By ruth lester on Oct 24, 2009
if there is one insect that i hate it is the tick,they are very sneakie i hate the thought of one of them crawling on me
By ruth lester on Oct 24, 2009
lets face it all insects are a pain, i want no parts of them living in my house or anywhere in my yard.
By Nancy Fennell on Oct 24, 2009
I love to use organic products. I have a dog that gets seizures from insecticides, so I am careful what I use.
By Tracy on Oct 25, 2009
I wasn’t totally sure by reading the article if this was sprayed in the surrounding area or on the pet itself. I assume it’s in the surrounding area.
By Greer on Oct 25, 2009
I live in a patio apartment complex and am located about 15 feet from a wooded area. We have quite a flea and tick problem here. This has been difficult to keep on top of with pets and appreciate the information on this website. I particularly like the product being organic.
By BridgetRoe on Oct 25, 2009
This is good information to have because we have a lot of wildlife here
By Lisa Bush on Oct 25, 2009
I love organic products since they are environmentally safe and safe for the family and pets. I’m all gun hoe about keeping everyone safe.
By Ashley on Oct 25, 2009
I never knew so much about ticks. I wish we didn’t have to worry about them around here in SC!
By Courtney G. on Oct 26, 2009
I have never seen this kind of tick. Not that I want to. I am extremely grossed out by bugs of any kind, however, the tick really is a menace
By Amanda on Oct 26, 2009
I think this product would be wonderful! So eco-friendly agianst those pesky ticks.
By Karina on Oct 26, 2009
I have a Shih-Tzu and just recently my son found a tick crawling on him, he had no idea what it was. I panicked and was disgusted at the thought of having ticks but yet my dog doesnt have any, I would like to keep it that way. I also have a garden and so, a constant battle with critters but my dog loves to eat my veggies so I cant use pesticides that can be harmful for her. This sounds like a great opportunity to try something that would help with the critter control in my household and still be environmentally safe! I cant wait!
By Rob Smith on Jul 30, 2010
I just used eco smart yard spray two days ago.
I am awaiting the results. I have a tick problem IN my home. A dog we rescued brought them. It is definitely not something you want.
We have bombed the house twice and still see some alive. Help!