The emergence of nymph ticks this spring, has folks asking,  “Are ticks getting smaller?”

Ahhhh, springtime!  There is so much to love about spring in Central Mass.  In a typical year, this would be the time that families gather for graduation parties in their backyards.  Evening get-togethers and grilling season would be in full force.  Neighborhood invitations would be going out weekly for backyard parties.  Even though we are not mixing and mingling at neighborhood parties just yet, you might still have noticed tick season is upon us just by spending time in your own backyard.  If you are a hiker, perhaps you have encountered Central Mass ticks during your nature treks.  Have you noticed these super-tiny blood suckers?  What’s the deal with these small ticks?

Ticks are not getting smaller.

The small ticks you are seeing are nymph ticks.  Nymph ticks are in their third stage of life (egg, larva, nymph, adult), and they are tiny.  If you have only encountered adult ticks, a nymph tick might fool you into thinking it’s no tick at all.  You might have even wondered if it’s a flea.  Nymph ticks are not only small, they can be very dangerous.  Measuring about 2mm (poppy seed-sized), they are difficult to spot.  A flea measures 1.5 to 3.3mm.

Because nymph ticks are difficult to see, they can slip by us until they have already attached themselves to take a blood meal, and become engorged.  Due to the fact that tick populations are on the rise, you might just now be noticing these tiny ticks – because there are so many.  Another reason you might just now be noticing these small ticks is because you are spending more time outdoors for recreation, because so many recreational and dining establishments are either closed, or not open in a full capacity.

What you most need to know about nymph ticks, is that they are the biggest carrier of Lyme disease.  Most nymphs have taken their last blood meal from a woodland animal – perhaps a squirrel or more commonly, the white-footed mouse.  Because these animals are often carriers of the bacteria that cause Lyme, this makes nymph ticks extremely dangerous.

Protect your yard with Central Mass tick control.

If you are seeing ticks on your kids or your pets in Central Mass, now is the time to tackle your tick problem.  Tiny nymph ticks are rampant, looking for their next victim.  Don’t let it be you, your kids, or your pets.  Entrust all the areas around your home to a professional tick control company.  Central Mass tick control professionals offer EPA-registered tick control solutions.  They will apply a barrier tick spray around your yard to eliminate ticks on contact, and the spray will continue working for a couple of weeks with a micro-encapsulated, time-released formula.  Reputable tick control professionals also offer all-natural solutions, which act as tick repellents, rather than eliminators.  Though effective in keeping up to 85% of ticks away, the must be sprayed more often than an EPA-registered insecticide.  Whichever works for you, now is the time to protect your yard.

Also read: When should I stop treating my yard for ticks?