By Chris Keefer, Ph.D., technical services manager, Syngenta Professional Pest Management Ticks are more than just a nuisance; they are also vectors for illnesses like Lyme disease in humans and pets. To provide your customers’ peace of mind from ticks, it’s important to understand their biology and use effective control practices. The tick life cycle Ticks have a complex life cycle that includes egg, nymph and adult stages. Development depends on species, temperature and blood meal availability. Important facts to remember about the tick life cycle include: - It can take weeks, several months or years for a tick to develop from an egg to an adult depending on species
- An adult tick can live up to one and a half years
- A female tick can lay between 20 and 10,000 eggs in her lifetime depending on species and resources
Preparing for tick control Prior to the treatment date for a tick service on your customers’ properties, advise homeowners of the following tips: Inside: - Remove all items from the floor and clean all surfaces so they are dry at the time of treatment
- Vacuum all carpets, rugs and furniture and dispose of the vacuum bag offsite
- Wash all pet bedding and linens, drying them on high heat
- Remove all household pets, such as fish, reptiles, cats and dogs
- Bathe dogs and cats and have a veterinarian check them for ticks
Outside: - Mow, pick up debris and clear the yard of all children’s and animal toys
- Clean and remove pet food/water bowls from the yard
- Clean pet sleeping areas
- Due to tick questing behavior, treat vegetation up to 3 feet high
- If heavy vegetation cannot be cleared, confirm it is okay to treat the area
- Make sure sufficient volume is used to cover treatment area
Before treatment, the source of the infestation should be identified. If the source is not easily identified, then an extensive inspection should be performed. Communication is key Make sure to communicate with your customers about these tips and determine who is responsible for each one. Also explain the tick life cycle to customers and treatment expectations. For the best results for tick control, use a residual contact insecticide, which will control adults, larvae and nymphs at the time of treatment. Demand® CS insecticide is a residual contact insecticide that is effective against ticks and is recommended in a 90-day treatment protocol as part of the exterior-only SecureChoice™ Tick Assurance Program. With proper education and knowledge of control efforts, you can provide your customers extended control of ticks. For more information about effective tick control, visit SyngentaPMP.com/Tick or contact your local Syngenta territory manager.  References: Bennett, G. W., J. M. Owens, and R. M. Corrigan. 1997. Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations. Advanstar Communications Inc., Cleveland, OH.
Koehler, P. G., W. H. Kern Jr. and R. M. Pereira. 2008. General Household Pest Control. University of Florida, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Gainesville, FL.
Mallis, A. 1990. Handbook of Pest Control. Franzak and Foster Co., Cleveland, OH.
Metcalf, R. L. and W. H. Luckmann. 1982. Introduction to Insect Pest Management. Wiley Interscience Publication. New York, NY. © 2024 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. Demand®, For Life Uninterrupted™, SecureChoice™ and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368). |