Pigeon tick (Argas reflexus)

Size:

• Head-body length: 5.5 - 10mm

Look:

• Legs: Since ticks belong to the arachnids, they have eight legs.
• Colour: Whitish with brown markings, no shield

Life cycle:

• Reproduction: After mating in their hiding places, the female lays eggs.
• Development: After about four to six weeks, the larvae hatch and feed on blood for six to fourteen days. They then develop into adult ticks through two to four nymphal stages. The entire life cycle can take two to three years, depending on environmental conditions and food availability.
• Egg laying: Between 20 and 100 eggs per clutch
• Lifespan: 6 - 11 years

Habitat:

• It prefers to live in hiding places near the primary host, and can enter the building during renovations or when the primary host is driven away, and take over the human as a secondary host.

Nutrition:

• It feeds exclusively on blood and requires several blood meals for its development from larva to adult tick.
• The pigeon tick can survive for years without feeding.

Behave:

• The pigeon tick lurks in the host's nest. When the host goes to sleep, several pigeon ticks attack. A high infestation of pigeon ticks can cause the host to suffer from anemia.

Engraving:

• Sting: The pigeon tick uses its mouthparts to pierce the skin and draw blood from its victim.
• The blood draw takes only a few minutes.

Disease transmission:

• The pigeon tick (Argas reflexus) can cause allergic reactions, severe skin irritation and itching in humans.

Remove pigeon nests:

• Since humans are secondary hosts for the pigeon tick, the origin of the tick lies with its primary host. Pigeon nests must be removed whenever possible, in accordance with hunting regulations.

Block access for pigeons:

• Seal attics, ventilation slots and facade openings to prevent pigeons from settling in the building.

Sealing living spaces:

• Seal cracks, crevices and access points to attics to prevent ticks from spreading indoors.

Professional pest control in case of infestation

• Chemical and physical measures implemented by experts help to sustainably combat an existing infestation.