Spring brings green grass, flowers, leaves on the trees, and lots of outdoor time. And unfortunately, ticks are also part of spring. As temperatures rise above freezing in the spring, over-wintered ticks are on the move again posing a risk of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and others. Tick populations vary greatly from place to place and year to year. Ticks are most active from March to November with peak activity in April, May, and June. Ticks live and crawl on low-lying vegetation and attach to small mammals, pets, or people as they pass by. Ticks crawl upward to find a place to bite as they seek blood to reproduce.

There are more than a dozen different tick varieties throughout the Midwest; there are three that one is most likely to encounter–the American dog tick, the lone star tick, and the blacklegged tick.

The American Dog Tick is also known as the wood tick. These ticks are found predominantly in grassy fields as well as along walkways and trails. They feed on a variety of warm blooded animals. Without a host, they may survive up to two years but need a host to move to the next stage of their development. Although they are abundant, the American dog tick is not considered to be a serious human health threat in Iowa. They can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever;  however, this disease is not common in Iowa or Minnesota.

The Lone Star Tick is abundant in the south central and southeastern US and in recent years has become common in Iowa as well. It is recognized by the white dot on the back of the adult female. The adult feeds on large mammals while the immature ticks prefer birds and small mammals. These ticks are usually found in bushy and grassy areas and can transmit the bacteria of several diseases but not Lyme Disease.

The Blacklegged Tick is also known as the deer tick or bear tick and is the known carrier of Lyme Disease. This tick takes two years to complete its life cycle and is found predominately in woody, brushy areas. Both the nymph (about the size of a poppy seed) and adult (1/8” or smaller) stages are capable of transmitting Lyme Disease. To transmit Lyme disease, deer ticks need to be attached for a significant length of time (48-72+ hours), so daily tick checks can be an important step in reducing the risks of Lyme Disease.

If you are unsure about a tick, you can submit it for identification to the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic. ISU does not test ticks for pathogens as testing ticks for pathogen presence is not useful.

There are some simple precautions one can take to protect self, family and friends, and pets from ticks and the diseases they carry. These include:

• Avoid prime tick habitat such as weedy vegetation.
• Wear long-sleeved clothing and tuck pants into socks or wear leggings.
• Use EPA-registered repellents such as DEET or picaridin.
• Spray shoes with permethrin.
• Use a tick preventative product on pets (dogs).
• Conduct regular tick checks including pets.

After being outdoors, make it a routine to check clothing and your body. A good tip is to disrobe in a dry bathtub where ticks that might fall off can be easily seen and disposed of. If a tick has attached, it is important to remove it quickly and correctly. Use this recommended method:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
4. Dispose of a live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers. Folk remedies such as burning or coating with polish, detergent, or petroleum jelly are of no benefit and may promote transmission of pathogens.

Most ticks are very sensitive to dryness. After removing clothing, place the clothing in the dryer unless it is soiled (heat will set soil). Blacklegged ticks are most susceptible to heat, while American dog ticks and Lone Star ticks are less susceptible. To be sure each species achieves fatal crispiness, leave clothes in the dryer on high for at least 10 minutes. Soiled clothing should be laundered in water as hot as possible and then dried in the dryer.

______________________________________
This blog was prepared with the help of Dr. Donald R Lewis, Professor Emeritus (Extension Entomologist), Iowa State University Department of Entomology. Tick images are courtesy of and with permission of John Van Dyk, Iowa State University Department of Entomology. http://www.ent.iastate.edu/ A dime is included in the photos to give perspective of size.

Are You Ready for Tick Season? University of Rhode Island.
Spring is Tick Season in Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin.
Ticks and Tick-borne Disease in Iowa. Iowa State University.
Tick Smart Tips. University of Rhode Island.
Preventing Ticks on Pets. CDC
What to Do After a Tick Bite. CDC

Reviewed and updated 3/2025, mg.

Marlene Geiger

I am a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a BS in Home Economics Education and Extension and from Colorado State University with a MS in Textiles and Clothing. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, gardening, quilting, cooking, sewing, and sharing knowledge and experience with others.

More Posts