Just when u thought it was safe to enter the bush

[Echidna]

This isnt a great photo but I thought I would share it with u guys.

The photo have 3 Paralysis ticks, Ixodes holocyclus, which my wife removed from me after I was working in the garden today. The small brown rock on the left is a small granule of coffee.

They are no bigger than a speck of dirt ... now here is the kicker. They are one of the most toxic ticks in the world and have previously caused deaths, normally of children and the elderly, but this is now rare due to the improvements in antitoxins. However there are scores of pets that die in Australia every year due to these little buggers.

[wildjob]

I hate ticks and now I have looked at yours I can feel ticks crawling all over me. Those are really small.

[Chip]

That's both amazing and scary. How in the world did your wife find these? Can you feel them when they're, umm, attached, so as to point her in the right direction?

[leonaashlee]

Wow David, that's pretty scary. How'd you find such small things? I wouldn't even be able to see them without a magnifying glass.

[Chewys Dad]

Please Keep them In Australia!!!! Good detail, I'd like to shoot the with my MP-E-65mm Macro lens, I could show them really big.
Thanks for sharing these
Michael.

[angeleyes216]

I remember my mum trying to use kerosine to get a tick of me when i was little, they really are nasty little buggers and hard to see sometimes. This is a great shot.

[Echidna]

Originally Posted by Chip

That's both amazing and scary. How in the world did your wife find these? Can you feel them when they're, umm, attached, so as to point her in the right direction?

the first one we found was like an ant biting me (a stinging pain) then the searching began, everywhere.

It is amazing how the mind makes u itch even when there is no reason though. lol

Originally Posted by leonaashlee

Wow David, that's pretty scary. How'd you find such small things? I wouldn't even be able to see them without a magnifying glass.

magnifying glass and tweazers are essential with these little mites

[UneekVisions]

Wow, those little buggers are tiny. Good thing you got them off.

I work outside for a living throughout the whole year and during the spring/season i must pull about 30-40 ticks off of me..We are always going in peoples bushes, or out in high grass or just rubbing us against tree limbs and etc..Eventhough it gets hot and humid i still try to protect myself from them and wear pants, long white socks, a hat and a white long sleeve shirt...Sort of sucks wearing a long sleeve shirt in 90 degree weather when your doing manual labor outside but id rather sweat then get limes.

[Heaterguy]

And yet another reason not to do gardening. I am showing this to my wife.

[Echidna]

Originally Posted by Heaterguy

And yet another reason not to do gardening. I am showing this to my wife.

sorry to disappoint u but this particular species aren't in Texas