Some ticks can survive longer in your home that previously believed, new study finds
A new study from Ohio State University found that ticks can survive for up to 3 weeks on common household flooring surfaces, with Gulf Coast ticks surviving longer than lone star ticks. The study's findings have implications for veterinarians' recommendations on tick prevention and home risk mitigation.
Ticks transported indoors on pets or clothing can survive for weeks on common household flooring, according to a new study from Ohio State University. Researchers tested the survival of Gulf Coast and lone star ticks on various flooring types, including ceramic tile, hardwood, and carpet. The study found that Gulf Coast ticks survived longest on vinyl flooring (mean 25 days) and shortest on long-pile carpet (mean 10 days), while lone star ticks survived longest on long-pile carpet (mean 15 days) and shortest on tile (mean 7 days). The findings support recommendations for year-round tick prevention and home risk mitigation, including thorough tick checks on pets and clothing. Veterinarians can advise clients to use tick preventive products, inspect pets and clothing for ticks, and take steps to kill ticks on clothing. The study was published in The Journal of Vector Ecology.
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