– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension
The Lone Star Tick, a tick species that entered Ohio over the last decade, has become known for causing an allergic syndrome in people called Mammalian Muscle Allergy.
Back in the early 2000s, there was a television show on NBC called Fear Factor that would subject people to situations where they confronted their fears through challenging dares. Claustrophobia (fear of confined/crowded spaces), hemophobia (fear of blood), arachnophobia (fear of spiders) and entomophobia (fear of insects) were commonly addressed on the show. The show grossed hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. As bizarre as the concept is, seeing that other people fear things can make our own fears seem minimal. On a platform like television, fears seem blown out of proportion, illogical, or ridiculous, but in truth, we all have fears.
Today, I will talk about the entomophobia and arachnophobia.
For many the fear of bugs can be inhibiting to daily life, whether justified or not. There are growing concerns about insect populations in the news frequently. The new invasive species- the spotted lantern fly is headed our way to feed on the sap of many native trees. Stink bugs damage a plethora of crops and annoy homeowners throughout the winter. Urban cities in Ohio are hot spots for bed bugs. The grassy and wooded areas of our communities are perfect environments for ticks (which are arachnids, not bugs). Research any of these pests and you will find out why they are a concern of many. Some pose issues for agriculture, some for homes, some for human and animal health.
Of all these critters, it is ticks that worry me the most. I wouldn’t say I have arachnophobia, but it does concern me daily. The tick population in Ohio continues to persist through our winters, becomes more diverse, and adds more concerns for human and animal health as time goes on. I confidently say that I am more afraid of ticks than I am of bed bugs.
While beg bugs are a pest in the home that feed on the blood of people, they are not known to transmit disease. They are a serious public health concern, because of their ease of spread and difficulty to eradicate once established. They can make you sick, but usually illnesses arise as a result of stress and lack of sleep, due to fear.
Ticks are vectors of disease, both for people and animals. Lyme disease is on the rise and anaplasmosis is becoming a greater concern for livestock, both of which are transmitted by the blacklegged (deer) tick, which is very common in areas that are wooded. New ticks moving into our region carry other diseases that can be a concern. The lone star tick is becoming more common in Southern Ohio and can transmit monocytic ehrlichiosis, southern tick associated rash illness, and tularemia. The American dog tick can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The Gulf Coast tick is moving North and is a potential vector of rickettsia. The Asian longhorned tick (which is present and proven in West Virginia) is a vector of theileria, a health concern for cattle, sheep, goat, and deer. The genotype confirmed in West Virginia is exclusive to cattle.
Considering the lay of our landscape and weather in Southeast Ohio, ticks are prevalent and are active all year round. Continue to make tick checks a priority for your family, preventative measures for your pets a must, and keep watch for signs of disease among your livestock. The fear factor of ticks is real and should be on everyone’s mind.
Learn more about tick diseases in Ohio at: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-2073.
Citizens who would like to gain more knowledge and implement effective pest control strategies utilizing pest control products are encouraged to pursue a pesticide applicator license. Licenses are granted through the Ohio Department of Agriculture with training assistance from OSU Extension. If you are interested in enrolling in a training class, contact