Blacklegged tick

Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are small, about the size of a sesame seed, especially in the nymph stage. Adult females have a characteristic reddish-brown body with a black shield on their back, and all stages have eight legs.

Blacklegged ticks don't infest homes but are brought onto properties by wildlife. Check yourself, your family, and pets for ticks after spending time in wooded or grassy areas. Finding a tick crawling on you or embedded in your skin is a sign of exposure in areas where they are prevalent.

MBPC offers perimeter treatments to reduce tick populations on your Grand Strand property, focusing on wooded edges and grassy areas. These treatments, applied by our SC Department of Pesticide Regulation-licensed technicians, target tick breeding grounds and host habitats, reducing the risk of tick encounters.

When spending time outdoors in Myrtle Beach, wear light-colored clothing to easily spot ticks. Use insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin. After being outdoors, check yourself, your family, and pets thoroughly for ticks, paying close attention to areas such as the hairline, behind the ears, and in skin folds.

Blacklegged ticks thrive in the humid subtropical climate and wooded areas of Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. They are commonly found in tall grasses, shrubs, and leaf litter, especially near the edges of wooded properties and along walking trails. These ticks require moisture to survive, making coastal SC a prime habitat.

Peak activity: Spring-Fall