Just curious while watching the snow fall. Whats the longest possible time a tick can possibly stay attached before it willingly lets go to continue its life cycle or die from old age??????
JJG
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Indefinite. I have had to dig some out that I
thought were fossilized already. The tiny ones can
burrow under the skin. And can be missed. I
remember one man when I was a kid who died and they
did not know what had made him so sick. It was
discovered he had a tick under the skin on his
back and they ruled cause of death tick bite.
That was 40 years ago.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Interesting, Pinelady - so any size tick could stay embedded for awhile?
I had read it was 10 or 11 days max for an adult female.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
They said his was covered by skin and has developed into a cyst. How long it too it to kill him I do
not know. I am suprised I even remember it. I do remember us kids talking about how they could have
missed a big tick burrowed under the skin on his back. He was a well know man about town. Maybe they thought it was something else.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Pinelady.. Don't you think he actually died from Lyme or RMSF or...
I would think under normal circumstances, the tick would stay attached until he is so engorged that he falls off.
Very good question! Expecting snow here tonight as well, JJ!
Posted by JJGable (Member # 22534) on :
Wow, So if the tick was clean, no lyme or Cos, it can borrow under your skin and still getch ya?