Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
I have seen more ticks lately than I see in summer.
It's time to double up on spray and change tick collars on the dogs.
Nymphal ixodes pacificus ticks are alive and well and questing for a meal right now on some greenery near you. I am in USDA Zone 6 so it is far from tropical here, and in fact snow and sleet are still melting off the roof.
We live in old forest around 3000 feet; there are abundant deer, jackrabbits, fox, and even a resident mountain lion. There is mixed black oak and incense cedar forest.
Do not let the change of seasons convince you the ticks are gone. I photographed this tick last night, after spying him looking in vain for a good spot to latch onto my dog.
Michelle
Ixodes Pacificus Nymph, Shingletown, CA, 11-25-06
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
*shudders* I was wondering about this yesterdaya (very warm for this time of year!) as my family and I were putting up christmas lights in the trees and bushes around our house.
I guess I figured that, since it's been cold and has already snowed and frozen several times here in Michigan, it was nothing to worry about.
When we were done I did some research and found this right away, from the Illinois Department of Public Health:
"Ticks can be active on winter days when the ground temperatures are about 45 0 Fahrenheit."
Good thing to be aware of!
Posts: 106 | From Michigan | Registered: Oct 2006
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Ditto with the common dog ticks in Fl.
They are abundant!!!
We had a very wet summer.
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
I was just gonna write to you and ask what you were doing lately and I see now that you have
COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND!!!!
Those are AWESOME photos my friend, just absolutely stunning. The clarity is the best by far. Do you think you could sell these to the DHS of CA? dept of health services?? or the vector born disease dept? or even Dr Lane at UC berkeley?
and what the &^%$$#@%$ are you doing gathering nymphal ticks over the thanksgiving weekend?
I would like to see one photo taken from sort of afar to see how small the buggers look to the "naked" eye.
You must really like playing with fire.
gulp.
Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted
Ewwwwwwwww!!!!! You are some photographer! I too was worrying about my husband putting up lights today near where all the chipmunks play...Hate the cold but now wishing it would go into a deep freeze. Looks like global warming is creating tick heaven!
Dread the reaction when I tell him he needs to wash everything & shower again! My teenage children are now having issues with the fact that I bought an artificial tree this weekend-wanted to know if it is for when we eventually move to Florida! (unfortunately many years from now... )
Friend (who pulled a lonestar tick off herself this summer) works in local peds office told me last night they had MANY kids come in this year bitten by ticks-amazing in light of the fact we have no ticks in central NY! Sue
Posts: 249 | From finger lakes, ny | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Ah, anytime we find one, my husband takes out his pocket knife and lets me CUT IT TO SHREDS, FEET FIRST, THEN HEAD, THEN THE BODY!!!!
It's very empowering. I recommend it as a form of therapy for us all. Posts: 867 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2006
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Hey thanks, all.
Trails, I was very careful handling and scrubbed vigorously after. Not to worry. I routinely photograph scorpions and even once, a very annoyed Pacific rattlesnake.
I do sell my photographs professionally but give them away free for educational or non-profit use, so long as someone is kind enough to ask first.
Now that I've thoroughly grossed everyone out, here's a couple shots of an engorged Ixodes Pacificus from Nov. 15. I posed him on a nice fall oak leaf. Talk about your Last Supper!
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
nice hobby! I think I will take it up. next time i see what doesn't exist here in the West (O.K they exist but are rare and do not carry Lyme!!??) I'm going to shoot, with my digital camera that is.
thanks for sharing!
jif
Posts: 208 | From Santa Fe | Registered: May 2006
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
What's even funnier than the top neurologist in town telling me "lyme disease is very rare here" was his next question, "You have ticks up there in Shingletown?" (Said in voice of wonder and disbelief.)
He lives just a short drive away, albeit in a manicured area of ritzy homes, yet is this clueless about the tick population in his own backyard.
I am sure he continues to doggedly misdiagnose lyme patients with MS on a regular basis despite efforts to enlighten him.
The statement needs changed slightly, from:
'Lyme is rare here."
To:
'Lyme is rarely diagnosed correctly here.'
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Michelle, Great pictures. What type of camera do you have? - Mike
Posts: 153 | From Watertown, CT USA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
quote:Originally posted by quic: Michelle, Great pictures. What type of camera do you have? - Mike
Thanks, Mike. Nikon D70, with a Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 micro lens - the VR edition. Custom white balance from Expodisc. (First nymph shot under intense halogen fly-tying lamp.) Photos shot in RAW and converted to JPEG for web.
Camera geek much!
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Great pictures! (I can't say I care for the models very much though )
Posts: 240 | From MA | Registered: Nov 2006
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Thanks Michelle M
for the reminder & good photos. nasty looking devils
I bought a painter's suit . Then I spray it down with deet. I bought it extra big so to fit over coats & sweaters. Comes in white or light blue.
I also wear my socks tucked into my high top sneaker & then spray them with deet.
I also tuck my hair in my hat & spray the hat first with deet.
None of it comes in contact with my body. If you just spray your shos the smell doesn't make it so bad. The hat smell if you put too much on can be a bit much. But anythings better than being re-infected.
You can buy a painters siut at most hardware stores. You can get a great suit on line for $7 at www.gemplers.com Type in the search box...DuPont ProShield 2 coveralls
The suit & the painters suit doesn't look too bad. It looks like you are a painter for a livng.
No way will I go into nature now without one. No way no how.
Take care Dana
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
Dana-Thanks for the link! Can they be machine washed? I bought some pretty tall light green rubber boots (the better to see the ticks on!) but really could use something one piece! Won't I be a sight! Plan to redesign and/or destroy my flower beds! Used to love my flowers-I shudder when I think of how many I brought into my house over the years before I knew we had ticks in the yard-
Sure does change one's way of thinking.....
Michelle-Praying the engorged shots do not replay in my dreams! If you aren't a professional photographer you should be! Sue
Posts: 249 | From finger lakes, ny | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
ok, I'll admit, the engorged ones made my skin crawl. So gross, but you captured the vileness in such a lovely way
-------------------- Daisy Posts: 122 | From at the computer | Registered: Jul 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Michelle, boy, you certainly are talented and fantastic photos you took!
You mentioned using them for educational purposes. Would you consider letting the LDA and this board, left hand side of PHOTOS, use yours with NAME RECOGNITION?
I don't know anything how things are done; but your work on close-up shots are amazing.
Now, which ones were blood engorged since to MY naked ones; I see nothing! uffda.
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Thank you Betty and all!
The last two photos are of the engorged tick; the first two photos are of a much slimmer model!
If any lyme disease organizations (other than the ALDF) can make use of these, I'd be delighted to contribute them. I have more in my website (link in profile), including a cool shot of a Rocky Mountain Wood tick, too.
My brain no longer works fast enough to continue in stress-intensive criminal law. However, my shutter finger does. I am busy reinventing myself, with high hopes!
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
I dont know why peolple say ticks arent active in winter almost everyday i was working in winter I either saw ticks or had them on me.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
Great photos.. What a difference a good camera makes. Much better than the $99.99 special at Wallymart.. Ya, get what you pay for... Plus some talent and know how makes a big difference...
My old Kodak Brownie was pretty good at the time, also.
Tj
Posts: 192 | From Phoenix, AZ | Registered: Apr 2005
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