Icky ticks

Screen shot from the TickApp showing male and female lone star ticks.

Certainly one of the most disgusting pests PMPs are likely to encounter are ticks. Those of you who live in heavy tick zones know what I mean. But how many times have you found a tick, or been asked about ticks by a customer, and been at a loss for answers? Now there's a new web application called "TickApp" that provides quick information about everything you need to know about ticks.

Researchers and extension specialists at Texas A&M University developed TickApp as a smart-phone friendly website to provide information about ticks.  Anyone with access to the Internet at home or on their smart phone can access it at http://tickapp.tamu.edu.

"Ticks  are blood-feeding parasites capable of causing irritation, inflammation and infection in animals and humans, as well as transmitting the  pathogens that cause tick-borne diseases," said Dr. Pete Teel, Texas  AgriLife Research professor and associate entomology department head.  "We are frequently contacted for assistance from lay and professional  audiences to identify ticks and answer questions about their biology,  distribution and control, as well as the potential for acquiring a  tick-borne disease.”

TickApp provides in-depth content on tick identification,  biology, ecology, prevention and management, and was designed for  primary delivery on smart phones such as BlackBerry, Droid, and iPhone  using Internet browsers, Teel said. It also can be accessed by desktop  or laptop computer, as well as other personal portable electronic  devices.

PMPs who have to work outdoors in tick infested environments should find the app useful, as well as pet owners; state and federal park managers and employees; animal shelter workers; animal control employees; outdoor educators; animal health inspectors; military personnel; veterinarians and vet clinic employees; public health and medical clinic employees; and recreational consumers, such as campers, hunters, birders, hikers and fishermen.;

Read the original article by Paul Schattenberg for more information.