What To Do If You Walk Through a Tick Bomb in Indiana or Kentucky

Why Mosquitoes, Flies, and Ticks Are So Bad in Indiana and Kentucky Right Now

Ever since the weather turned from blazing hot to nice and mild, my family and I have been eaten alive (literally) by mosquitoes, flies, ticks, and a whole host of creepy critters. I’m sitting here itching just thinking about it.

Out at the horse barn, the flies seem to have multiplied exponentially overnight. Sure, you always expect flies, but lately it’s like walking through a wall of them whenever the sun hits. The barn owners put up an array of fly catchers and within days they were full. Gross.

Why Late Summer Brings a Surge of Pests

I looked it up, and late August into early September is peak breeding season for pests in Indiana and Kentucky. Cooler temperatures mixed with bouts of rain create ideal conditions for eggs to hatch and grow into healthy adults - adults that just happen to love biting and sucking blood.

Pets Can Be Affected Too

I also noticed my dog and cat have been super itchy lately. My dog is on flea prevention, and my cat naturally doesn’t get fleas, so I knew it wasn’t that. In the past, their itching has come from unknowingly walking through a tick nest. The ticks are so tiny you can’t see them until they’ve grown larger.

When we bought our property years ago, I remember walking through the woods and later discovering hundreds of tiny ticks crawling all over me. We always called them “turkey ticks” or “turkey mites,” but Indiana DNR has another name.

What Are Seed Ticks?

Tis the season to be vigilant for seed ticks! Seed ticks are the larval stage of the tick's life cycle that, after hatching, are seeking their first blood meal. They are incredibly tiny and can easily pass as a speck of dirt or small freckle, but upon closer inspection, will have six miniscule legs. Nymph ticks, the next stage in the life cycle that have already fed, will be slightly larger with eight legs. To protect against seed ticks, wear proper protective clothing (long sleeves, long pants tucked into socks) and treat clothing with insect repellents whenever you are in the forest in late summer and early fall. One of the best ways to remove seed ticks is with an adhesive, like a lint roller, to prevent leaving any mouthparts behind that could cause future irritation. For more information on ticks in Indiana, visit dnr.IN.gov/entomology/resources-and-links/ticks/. - Indiana DNR

Ticks in Indiana and Kentucky Can Be Dangerous (Even Tiny Ones)

According to the National Library of Medicine, seed ticks can be the baby version of any tick, but around here, they’re often the Lone Star tick. These are the ones linked to alpha-gal syndrome, which causes a red meat allergy.

Ticks in Indiana and Kentucky can spread:

• Lyme disease
• Ehrlichiosis
• Tularemia
• Heartland virus
• Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI)
• Alpha-gal syndrome

What To Do If You Find a Tick Nest

If you see a gelatinous clump of eggs in your yard, you can pour rubbing alcohol on it, or burn it. But if you walk through a “tick bomb” (hundreds of baby ticks crawling up your legs), here’s what to do:

• Remove ticks with a lint roller, credit card scrape, or tweezers (don’t twist).
• Shower and scrub with antibacterial soap.
• Apply rubbing alcohol or antiseptic.
• Monitor for fever, rashes, or flu-like symptoms.

Read More: Here's What To Do If You Find a Tick Nest In Your Yard

Are you itchy reading all of this too? I'm off to check my dog and cat for turkey mites. Ew Ew Ew!