Department of Entomology

Avoiding Tick Bites

Activity of the lone star tick starts from late March and lasts until early November each year in Kansas. Outdoor activities in the tick season.

Reducing ticks in your backyard

  • Avoid and remove the area that can be favorable to wild animals (i.e., deer and mouse).
  • Remove leaf litter, brush, and high grass
  • Field burning will significantly reduce tick populations, based on the study done by the research team Dr. Cassandra Olds at Kansas State University.
  • You may spray pesticide according to the instructions on the label.

Personal Protection

Boot with wrapped double-sided carpet to trap ticks. Ticks caught in double-sided carpet tape.

  • Double-sided sticky tape reduces tick attachments (See above for picture provided by Ms. Sharon Forsyth in AGI)
  • Use repellents (DEET >20 % or permethrin) on exposed skin or clothing.
  • Frequently check your clothing and body during outdoor activity for ticks.
  • Check your body daily after outdoor activity.

Other useful links for tick knowledge