Do ticks in Kansas carry Lyme disease?

In Kansas, ticks are prone to carry four diseases: Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia. Ticks lurk in tall grasses and bushy areas and then climb aboard humans as they walk by.

When are ticks active in Kansas?

Adults are often encountered in Kansas from late February through early June; nymphs from April through July; larvae are frequently found in the late summer and fall. Larvae can be found in large numbers (hundreds or even thousands of individuals from one egg mass) all accumulat- ing on a single plant leaf.

What do Kansas ticks look like?

Identifying characteristics: The adult ticks are readily visible, 4-5 mm long. The female ticks are brown, and have a white to off-white coloring on the scutum, and the males have prominent white striations. The nymphs are small relative to adults, up to 4mm long, and are pale red in color.

What is the most common tick in Kansas?

The ticks most often encountered in Kansas are the American dog tick, lone star tick and blacklegged tick (or deer tick). Ticks can transmit diseases, including ehrlichiosis, tularemia, anaplasmosis, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Where are the most common ticks in Kansas?

Distribution: Lone star ticks are the most common ticks found in the east, south eastern and central parts of Kansas. They are increasingly found west of Salina in the recent years, although in low numbers. Identifying characteristics: The adult ticks are readily visible, 4-5 mm long.

What are the characteristics of an American dog tick?

American dog tick. Identifying characteristics: The adult ticks are readily visible, 4-5 mm long. The female ticks are brown, and have a white to off-white coloring on the scutum, and the males have prominent white striations. The nymphs are small relative to adults, up to 4mm long, and are pale red in color.

Where are ticks most likely to be found?

Ticks are found in areas frequented by wildlife and potentially some domestic animals, edges of woodland, shrubs and also grassland. Diseases they may transmit: The American dog ticks are responsible for the transmission of anaplasmosis to cattle, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia.

How to tell if a tick is a tick?

It is present in relatively high numbers in neighboring Missouri. Identifying characteristics: The adult ticks are easy to spot, and the females have a brown to reddish orange body with characteristic dark brown or black scutum on upper body and black legs. The males are black and are slightly smaller in size compared to females.