Western Exterminators - Pest Control Services California, Arizona, Nevada

Blood Feeders: Bed Bugs | Brown Dog Tick | Cat Flea

	Common name:	Latin name:	Class:	Order:	Family:
	Brown Dog Tick	Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latrielle)	Insecta	Acari	Ixodidae

	Size:
	Adults are about 1/8 inch (3 mm) long, but when engorged with blood are up to 1/2 inch (12 mm) long.
	Characteristics:
	Body flattened from top to bottom and a little wider at the posterior end than the front. Male with tiny pits scattered on back. Mouth is visible from above.
	Color:
	Reddish brown, but gray-blue or olive color when full of blood. It is this overall reddish-brown color that gives them their name.
	Where Found:
	Throughout the United States. Most common in states with warmer climate and other parts of the world.
	Habitat:
	Common on dogs, and in the warm, dry, indoor locations of homes dogs live in.
	Food:
	Dog Blood.
	Biology:
	The engorged female drops off the host dog, but tends to crawl upwards, depositing 1,000-3,000 tiny dark brown eggs in wall or ceiling crevices and cracks, and then she dies. Eggs hatch in 19-60 days into tiny larvae with 6 legs. These "seed ticks" crawl down the walls and attach to a dog, but can go for 8 months without food or water. After engorging 3-6 days they enlarge to 1/16 inch (2 mm) becoming blue, then drop off to find a place to molt. In 1-3 weeks they become reddish-brown nymphs with 8 legs. They attach again and engorge for 4-9 days, growing to 1/8 in (3 mm) and turning dark gray. The nymphs then drop off, hide and molt into adults in 12-19 days. They seek a host dog as soon as possible, but can survive up to 18 months before attachment, after which they engorge 6-50 days and mate. They may complete this cycle in 2 months, but there are usually only 2 generations per year in the north and 4 generations per year in the south
	Damage:
	A nuisance to the host animal and household. Although they seldom attack humans, they are carriers and transmitters of several disease organisms.
	Invasion:
	Tendency for brown dog ticks to move upward helps them to find a host dog.
	Control:
	The areas where your dog spends most of its time would be the best areas to concentrate inspection efforts on. Treatment should focus on dog’s resting places, upholstered furnishings, cracks and crevices, under porches, and crawl spaces (if the pet has access to this area). Before treatment, thoroughly clean home and kennel areas. Indoor and outdoor treatment should be done. Have your pet treated on the same day as this pesticide application. Due to the extensive treatment necessary and the need for specific application equipment, you may want to have this treatment performed by a professional exterminator. Inside treatment should focus on areas up to four feet and be concentrated around where your pet spends time. Exterior treatment should include walks, shrubbery, and lawns. Continue to monitor your pet for infestation, especially if you take it off of the property to other possible infested areas. For personal protection from this insect, use repellants, light colored clothing, and frequent inspection in tick infested habitats.