Ticks and Lyme disease
When the weather’s nice, it’s crucial to keep in mind the risks associated with tick bites. Our Eco-Technician is here to support you with essential information and prevention tips to protect you and your family from the dangers these parasites can represent.
What are ticks and why should I care?
Ticks are small parasitic mites found in wooded areas, parks and green spaces. They can attach themselves to human or animal skin to feed on blood. In Quebec, 12 species of tick have been identified. The most dangerous is the black-legged tick, also known as Ixodes scapularis. It can transmit the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, which can have serious health consequences.
What's the tick situation in Quebec?
In Quebec, monitoring the tick population, particularly the blacklegged tick, is a priority. The effects of climate change (milder winters and warmer summers) have favored their proliferation and adaptation to new habitats. This has led to a significant increase in the risk of tick bites and associated diseases in the region.
In 2021, the assessment of at-risk areas revealed a significant expansion of areas classified as orange, signalling an increased level of threat. For the first time, even the island of Montreal is concerned, with the West Island now listed among the regions presenting a “significant risk” according to the Institut national de santé publique du Québec.
How to protect yourself against tick bites?
- Outdoor activities
When you’re out and about, make sure you stay on the trails and avoid the tall grass where ticks can be found. If you’re planning to go off-trail, follow these tips to avoid tick bites: wear long, light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot, as well as closed shoes and a hat. Tuck the bottom of your pants into your socks or boots. Using tick repellent can also help.
When you get home, check yourself and your children carefully for ticks. They can attach themselves anywhere, but they tend to lodge in warm, damp areas, as well as skin folds and areas where clothing is tight. Ticks can attach themselves to the skin for several hours or days before being detected. Essential areas to check are: around the waist, behind the knees, between the fingers and toes, in the armpits, navel and around the neck, as well as at the hairline.
Also check your equipment and pets to avoid introducing ticks into your home.
- In my garden
To reduce the presence of ticks in your environment, keep your garden tidy by cutting tall grass and removing dead leaves.
What to do in the event of a bite?
In the event of a bite, remove the tick as soon as possible. Use sterilized fine-tipped tweezers or a specially designed kit available from your chemist. Gently grasp the head of the tick close to the skin with the tweezers and pull firmly, taking care not to crush the insect’s abdomen, as this increases the risk of transmitting the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease.
After removal, carefully clean and disinfect the bite area. Store the tick in a plastic bag or empty pill container. Indicate the part of the body that was bitten and the date the tick was removed, and store it in the refrigerator. The tick may be useful if you need to see a doctor.
What to do in case of symptoms?
If you experience symptoms such as fatigue, fever, aches and pains or redness of the skin, call Info-Santé 811 or consult a doctor and provide details of the bite. In some specific areas, a preventive antibiotic may be recommended after consultation with a health professional.
What should I do if my pet has been bitten?
For advice on ticks on pets, consult the Lyme disease in animals webpage.
White grubs
Photo credit: Jardinier paresseux
White grubs are beetle larvae found mainly in the soil, particularly in lawns and gardens. They thrive in the sunniest and driest areas.
- Colour: creamy white, with a brownish cap.
- Shape: thick, soft body, curved into a ‘C’ shape.
- Size: generally 1 to 4 cm, depending on the species and stage of development.
- Legs: three pairs of small legs near the head.
From late July to late August, when they are small and feeding close to the soil surface, they are easier to get rid of.
July is white grub prevention month.
- Patches of grass that have turned yellow or brown and come away easily from the ground.
- The presence of white grubs beneath the grass, near the roots.
- Increased activity by birds or animals digging in the lawn to feed on the grubs.
- Avoid mowing too short: maintaining a cutting height of around 7 to 8 cm promotes a more vigorous and better-rooted lawn.
- Avoid over-watering: very damp soil can encourage certain species to lay their eggs. Opt for less frequent but more thorough watering, as and when necessary.
- Monitor outdoor lighting: some beetles are attracted to light. Reducing outdoor lighting during summer evenings can help limit their attraction.
- Reduce vulnerable areas of lawn: diversify your garden design by incorporating flowerbeds and ground cover plants to reduce the area of lawn exposed to infestations.
In Quebec, the ideal time is generally between late July and mid-September, when the larvae are young. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
In the spring and fall, racoons, skunks and birds feed on white grubs and damage lawns. Minimize the damage by using a physical barrier (e.g., netting or a tarp) or by spreading a repellent on the ground. For instance: Critter Ridder, Fiche le Camp, Scent a Gone and hen manure-based Acti-sol contain a base of cayenne pepper or hen manure.
Ants
These small brown ants usually make their nests in flagstones or in asphalt cracks. They prefer dry sandy grass. Borax bait (or boric acid) is also very effective in destroying entire colonies of ants while being environmentally friendly.
Ants feed on the honeydew of aphids found in trees and other vegetation. This is why they protect them.
The ants prevent the aphids’ natural predators, such as lacewings, ladybugs and flower flies, from keeping the population in check.
The presence of ants does not put your tree’s health at risk. Dead wood from underlying issues attracts ants.
- Physical barrier preventing the ants from protecting the aphids
- Sticky collar around the tree
- Ecological products to control ants
- Boiling water poured on the ant hill
- Lemon or orange puree (juices mixed with the peelings).
- Borax in small containers near the colonies.
- Compost to the lawn; this will increase humidity and disturb the ants’ habitat.
- Around the foundations and in the house, sprinkle diatomaceous earth (Insectigone for instance) where the ants travel, around doorframes and window frames, and along the foundations. Repeat after a rainfall. Block outside holes with steel wool sprinkled with diatomaceous earth.
Information
- 514-684-3114
- LigneVerte@ddo.qc.ca