When ticks are on branch's and land on a person are they able to judge tragectroy? Or is it just dumb luck that they fall and land on a person.
I had a heated debate recently with my hubby about this...yes, he actually was a rocket scientist at one point in his life and doesn't believe this is possible.
I have seen to many of the devils land on people from tree limbs & believe that they may be able to judge tragectory in an innate sense. Like birds that migrate, nobody gives them directions,
Any thoughts or articles to prove or disprove this theroy?
Thanks for any ideas,
your wacky lyme friend Dana
[ 18. August 2007, 02:02 PM: Message edited by: 5dana8 ]
Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
I think I read that they hang from limbs and branches, extending the longer front forelegs so as to reach out and grasp onto a host, not necessarily jump.
I think I remember correctly.
Fleas jump though, and I think I got some of this from fleas and mosquitos - never a tick. I wish the scientific community would stop calling it a tickborne disease, as I'd have figured this out much sooner and not have come so close to death.
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
Thanks for the feedback tailz & Cave76
I think I will change my heading to "falling ticks"
My Dad swears he got 2 ticks on him this summer from his trees. He had just came home from the barber shop ( he's balding, but has some hair left)
and nothing was found on him. He walked outside & stood under his trees...He came in & found a tick crawling on the top of his head. So I am assuming it fell from the tree. I asked him & he said he didn't brush up against anything.
This happened twice this summer. So I was thinking (ouch ) when the ticks spots a host below them & want to drop down on them do they have some way of judging the "mark",
or is it just random good luck on the ticks part to land on the host?
Posted by meg (Member # 22) on :
I don't know if they jump, but I've seen them in small trees a foot or so taller than me!
He walked outside & stood under his trees...He came in & found a tick crawling on the top of his head. So I am assuming it fell from the tree.
Every tick I've had on me crawled up until it found a suitable place to bite and mine have come from grass, lawns and also taller grass. Could there have been grass or brush where he was standing--or even lawn?
Posted by valymemom (Member # 7076) on :
Didn't I read that it was the carbon dioxide they sense from far away.
I believe our trees are loaded with ticks from the small mammals and birds.
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
[original quote by valmemom:]
"I believe our trees are loaded with ticks from the small mammals and birds." ----------------------------------------------------------
[original quote by Cave76:]
"But thinking about it---I would think that the only reason a tick might be in a tree would be if it fell off a bird or a climbing rodent." -----------------------------------------------------------
Yes. I believe that too. So do you think it's the carbon dioxide trail they follow to know how where to land?
This is a stupid question but do they have eyes like flys?
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I read that the white footed mouse nests in trees. This mouse is host to the deer tick.
And I read that ticks live in birds nests, where they can find a ready supply of bird to feed on.
So yes, it makes sense that ticks can drop out of trees.
BTW, I think they drop randomly, and that it's by chance that they land on a person or animal.
Carol
Posted by Coyotecrazy (Member # 6707) on :
Ticks absolutely DO "fall" or "jump" from trees - especially pine thickets. I have been horseback riding too many times, through pine thickets in East Texas and Alabama and come in covered with "seed ticks". I don't know if they just fall when they detect a target or if they aim and jump, but they definitely DO live in and fall/jump from trees !
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
Thanks for all your repy's
carol, Cave76, tailz, meg, valymemom, & coyotecrazy
I really appreciate your thoughts and experiences.
All that you have written makes sence to me. We live in the middle of mostly pines ~ this is very common here in the south, and have tons of birds. The black birds swarm here in the spring to nest.
We also have a small pond in the back and I think it also attracts alot of birds.
But then again my father lives in the suburbs. It has a few trees and low on the deer population.
So I guess from the responces the ticks are not smart enough yet to calculate where they will land.
That is really disturbing to hear they are tracking us with our own carbon dioxide trail.
I guess I'll just have to hold my breath so they don't know where I am Posted by MommaK (Member # 10376) on :
This post is interesting to me.
I assumed that some of my daughter's ticks came from pine trees at a friends house. Of course their dogs could bring them inside. But I have pulled at least two from the top of her very, very, thick hair, just crawling around shortly after she returned from their house. The house is in a neighborhood, but a wooded one. Trees, maily pines, completely shade the driveway, house and yard.
Why would the tick be crawling on the top of her head if that was not where it landed? Also interesting that her hair is the color of a deer.
The attached ticks we have removed have been in the hip area. One after returning from a weekend at a campout. They had plenty of time to crawl from either end of the body and find the best place for the next meal.
Would the carbon dioxide theory would mean that ticks are more attracted to some than others, like mosquitos?
Just wondering, MommaK
Posted by Vanilla (Member # 11155) on :
One LLMD thought that ticks were attracted to some blood more then other blood. This was after I told him my cousin and his nephew who live on a different coast of the USA from me both claim they have had lyme disease twice. Maybe their first bout never went away.
I for sure think ticks fall from trees. I have found 2 on my deck this year and my deck is a second story deck. One was on top of a metal table on the deck and the other was on top of a wooden railing.
Ticks hang and breed in the winter time in the base of oak trees in the moss. I am sure birds and rodents do drag them up trees but I wonder how far up a tick can climb on their own? I bet they do hatch out of bird nests too.
I always wonder and maybe one of you knows - do ticks get sick at all from Lyme and co-infections or not at all? Are they just healthy hosts that pass infections on?
I have seen two tiny all orange deer ticks/black legged ticks this week in my back yard. I guess they hatch out all months of the year. It is hot here and I was hoping they would not be crawling around in the heat - wrong.
Also they say to keep your lawn mowed short. Someone does keep the lawn well mowed here and yet I still saw one on the end of a blade of grass with its legs waving about. I am so sick of ticks and walking around with my pant cuffs tucked in my socks.
My landlady thinks I am tick paranoid. If she was smart she would be too. Her little grandchildren play around here without any thought of ticks.
My bulls eye tick bite came after a hike were I and a friend rested in a meadow sitting in grass that looked like the deer slept there the night before and we sat leaning against the base of oak trees. If only I knew then what I know now.
I love nature and I enjoy spending time out doors but I must say since seeing 2 ticks in 3 days this week I am paradnoid and not really wanting to be outside.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
A while back, I read an article about birds living and nesting in large warehouse stores.
They'd build their nests in the rafters, and there was bird seed in the garden department, plus any insects.
People thought it was nice seeing the birds flitting about in the garden department.
Heh, if they only knew that birds bring ticks to the nest, which then fall out of the nest.
Carol
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Check your ticks to see what kind they are. The Lonestar tick has a white "star" or spot on it that is usually quite visable.
Lonestar ticks are different than the others. They agressively (very agressively) pursue their next host/victim... where other ticks hang on blades of grass and pray for something to come by so they can latch on.
Ticks are attracted to the carbon dioxide a potential host emits (hence the dry ice blocks used in trapping ticks for studies).. and the Lonestar ticks can sense the carbon dioxide and drop onto the victim from above when they do.
They drop in such way it appears they are jumping ... but they don't have jumping legs like a grass hopper. Their aggressive nature makes people think they do "jump".
Some people use to think they could fly.. but they can't of course because they don't have wings or frequent flyer miles. They wind can catch them up and blow them from a spot sometimes.. as they are very light.
Ticks will instinctively climb to the highest point they can in order to find a host.. that is why you keep your grass cut short. Ticks don't like short grass or the sun beating on them with no protection. They can't afford sunscreen and a couple ticks told me it makes them too slimy to be crawling on something when they do find someone worth sucking on.
Side note- when spraying your yards always spray the base of all the trees. If you look closely at a tree trunk.. you will see all sorts of insects living there. Some are ok... ticks are not.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)