You can't tell by looking at an individual tick whether it's infected. But you can identify the species, and only blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) transmit Lyme disease in the Eastern U.S.
Finding a tick on yourself is stressful. Doubly so if it’s on your kid or pet. And it’s only natural to want to know what the odds of catching Lyme disease from the encounter are.
Unfortunately, the most honest answer is that no visual inspection can tell you whether that specific tick is infected. But species identification gets you most of the way there.
Blacklegged ticks are small. Adults are about the size of a sesame seed. Females have a reddish-orange body with a dark brown shield behind the head. Nymphs are about the size of a poppy seed and are tan to dark brown. If the tick that bit you matches this description, Lyme disease transmission is possible, especially if the tick was attached for 24 hours or more.
Also common in the Williamsburg area are American dog ticks. They’re larger, often about the size of a watermelon seed, with brown bodies and white or gray markings. Dog ticks do not transmit Lyme disease. Lone Star ticks, identifiable by a white dot on the female's back, also do not transmit Lyme.
If you removed the tick and saved it, you can submit it for species identification through your local health department or extension office. Some labs also offer testing to determine whether a tick is carrying Lyme bacteria, though these results take time and aren't typically used to guide immediate treatment decisions.
No matter what, if you find a tick on yourself, remove it quickly with fine-tipped tweezers. Pull up steadily and don’t twist. Make a note of where the bite took place and when, then monitor for symptoms. Look out for a rash, often but not always, shaped like a bullseye. Also watch for fever, headache, fatigue, and joint pain. If you develop any of these symptoms, contact your doctor promptly. Early Lyme disease is highly treatable with antibiotics.
The best protection is reducing your odds of being bitten by ticks in the first place. For Williamsburg homeowners who want fewer ticks on their property, Mosquito Squad of Williamsburg can help. This can be done with barrier treatments that help reduce tick and mosquito populations by up to 85-90%. A trained technician identifies the high-risk areas on your property and applies targeted treatments every 21 days throughout the active season.
