How long can a tick survive in your home after hitching a ride inside?
Researchers at Ohio State University set out to answer this question. Using 90 lone star ticks and 90 Gulf Coast ticks, they assessed survival rates on five types of common home flooring: tile, wood, vinyl, and short-pile and shag-like carpet.
Average survival time was 18 days for the Gulf Coast ticks and 11 days for the lone star ticks. The Gulf Coast ticks survived the longest (25 days) on vinyl floors and the shortest (10 days) on shag-like carpeting.
The lone star tickets survived the longest (15 days) on shag-like carpeting and shortest (seven days) on tile.
The researchers say their findings show that households should take steps to protect themselves from tick bites after time spent outside:
- Use tick prevention products for people and pets.
- Thoroughly check pets with a lint roller or brush when coming inside from the outdoors.
- Bag clothes immediately after being outside or put them in the dryer.
“That way you’re not releasing ticks into your home environment where you’re relaxed and comfortable, and most definitely not thinking about tick prevention,” said study co-author Risa Pesapane, an associate professor of veterinary preventive medicine at OSU.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that cases of tick-borne disease jumped 40% from 2019 to 2022.
The study was published in the Journal of Vector Ecology.
