Tackling Springtime Ticks and Insects 

by Jennifer Molzen

Did you know that ticks have a two-year life cycle and do not die with the first frost? When the weather is consistently below 40 degrees, they settle down for a long nap, occasionally waking up on a warm day. This winter, there were 25 days that the temperature was above 50 degrees. A very wet fall and mild winter is expected to produce an increase in tick activity this spring. As spring roars in, with the sun ablaze, adult and nymph ticks are waking up. One tick may lay 2,000 to 3,000 eggs that will hatch in the spring, releasing an army of very hungry larval ticks searching for their first blood meal.

Consider scheduling your spring yard cleanup earlier this year to stay ahead of any ticks seeking a safe place to harbor and lay their eggs. The first order of business is to clean the yard of fallen branches and leaves. Trim up hedges, remove leaves collected inside bushes, and cut back any overgrown weeds around fence posts, swing sets and sheds.

Consider applying an all-natural or organic tick spray to the perimeter of your yard. Natural sprays are gentler on your family, pets and the environment. According to studies by Kirby Stafford, chief entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, just one application kills 68 to 100 percent of ticks in your yard. However, don’t let that lull you into false confidence. Ticks have a two-year life cycle; they can exist in different life stages depending on the seasons. Adult ticks are more active in the early spring and fall, whereas larval and nymph ticks are more active from May to July. The latter are much harder to see when you are conducting your tick checks on pets and loved ones.

Ticks are transient; after feeding, they generally fall off any wildlife that was serving as their host (ground-feeding birds, mice, skunks, opossum, squirrels, chipmunks and more). At that point, they digest the host’s blood and settle down in a moist, cool place, such as leaf litter or old moist wood piles, to molt to their next stage.

Natural Defenses

Below are descriptions of some all-natural products that will defend against ticks at home and in the great outdoors.

Vitamin B1 trans-dermal patches slowly release vitamin B1 into the dermal layer of the skin, becoming effective in two hours. They distribute the B1 directly to your dermal layer where the water-soluble vitamin B1 is slowly excreted through the sweat glands and released through the skin’s pores. Combined with the body’s own chemistry, it produces an invisible, odorless shield that repels biting insects. Service personnel from our company, Tick Tackler, who have worn the patches while working in the field find them to be extremely effective against blood-sucking and other irritating insects including mosquitoes, flies, sand flies, no-see-ums, fleas, ticks, gnats, chiggers and deerflies. The patches work for 36 hours and stay on in water. For those that enjoy spending time outdoors, the patches provide an eco-friendly alternative to using toxic, conventional insect repellants. However, like anything, the patches are not foolproof, and everyone is encouraged to perform a tick-check before entering their homes after spending time outdoors.

Non-DEET bug repellents, like Tick Guard, are usually very effective, as well, making DEET unnecessary. However, the natural repellants may wear off quicker than conventional ones, so be sure to read the label and reapply as necessary. Most of these sprays are also safe to apply to your dog, as long as they dry thoroughly and do not get into the pet’s eyes; also, it’s always best to double check for ingredients that might be harmful to your dog, even though they are safe for you, before applying.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is one of Mother Nature’s secret weapons in the pest control world. DE controls insects by using physical, not chemical, action: It punctures an insect’s exoskeleton and absorbs its bodily fluids—thus posing no harm to warm-blooded animals with endoskeletons. Moreover, on any surface, this natural pesticide has a remarkable repellency factor. We apply food-grade Perma-Guard DE in a shaker to our dog, cats, rescue kittens and chickens to deter ticks. We also use it in the vegetable garden to keep the bugs from destroying our veggies. We also shake it on the dog’s food as a natural de-wormer. It is important to only use food-grade DE and be sure not to get it in pets’ eyes. (Note: The DE used in pool filters is completely different, heat treated and highly toxic.) The book, Going Green Using Diatomaceous Earth, by Tui Rose, is a helpful resource for exploring the uses of DE. A must-read for anyone battling backyard bugs, the book covers, in detail, using DE as pest control indoors and out, around pets or people. In addition to being a natural insecticide for homes, gardens, farms, animals and crops, DE also cleans up oil spills; polishes copper; and deodorizes garbage cans, shoes and litter boxes.

Most importantly, remember to check yourself and your loved ones, from bottom to top, for ticks immediately following your time outdoors and again 12 hours later. A second check will catch any ticks you didn’t see the first time around.

Up at the Hemlocks, we have 100 pounds of food grade diatomaceous earth. It also has worked very well on wiping out flea infestations. One can also use it in the garden, though it does have to be reapplied after a rain.  I have an old fashioned powder sprayer to use, too. I would add trying powdered sulfur (also called sublimed sulfur), which the Hemlocks also has. It works for most in defeating ticks, though it can smell like rotten eggs to many, too.