Ticks

About Ticks

Ticks are blood-feeding arachnids that pose serious health risks to Orange County residents, their pets, and outdoor enthusiasts. Several tick species are found in the region, including the western black-legged tick, the Pacific Coast tick, and the brown dog tick. Ticks are most commonly encountered in brushy areas, hiking trails, and tall grass, but they can also be brought into homes on pets and clothing. They attach to hosts for extended feeding periods lasting several days, during which they can transmit dangerous pathogens. Tick prevention is essential for families who spend time outdoors, especially in the canyons and open spaces common throughout Orange County.

How to Identify Ticks

• Small, flat, oval-shaped arachnids, 1/8 to 1/4 inch before feeding
• Eight legs (as arachnids, not insects), with a hard or soft body depending on species
• Engorged ticks swell dramatically, becoming gray or blue-gray and up to 1/2 inch
• Commonly found attached to skin, scalp, behind ears, or in warm body folds

Lifecycle

Ticks undergo four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Most species require a blood meal at each stage before molting to the next. The full lifecycle can take 2 to 3 years depending on species and environmental conditions. Females lay thousands of eggs after their final blood meal before dying.

Health & Property Risks

• Transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosis
• Can cause tick paralysis from neurotoxins in saliva during prolonged feeding
• Difficult to detect due to small size and painless bites
• Pose year-round risk in Southern California's mild climate