The life cycle of an Australian tick
Learning the life cycle of the Australian paralysis tick is an important first step in protecting yourself, your family and your pets this tick season.
The Australian paralysis tick — Ixodes holocyclus — goes through four distinct life stages across all four seasons. Making Tick Awareness a year-round mission means you and your family are protected in every season.
Stage 1 — Eggs (Autumn: March to May)
After feeding, a female paralysis tick drops to the ground and lays between 2,000 and 3,000 eggs in moist leaf litter, dark, humid areas and dense vegetation over several weeks. These eggs are virtually impossible to see with the naked eye.
Stage 2 — Larvae (Late Winter to Early Spring: July to September)
Eggs hatch into larvae after 40 to 60 days. Sometimes called grass ticks or seed ticks, larvae are smaller than a poppy seed — barely visible to the naked eye. At this stage they have only six legs. After finding a host and feeding for up to 6 days — often going completely undetected — they drop off, moult and emerge as nymphs — now with eight legs like all adult arachnids.
Stage 3 — Nymph (Spring to Summer: September to December)
Nymphs are approximately poppy seed sized — around 2mm. They are responsible for the majority of tick-borne disease transmission in humans because they are large enough to feed effectively yet small enough to go undetected on the skin.
Ticks first attach at ground level — often to feet and shoes — but are also found questing in long grass, on pathways and on low-hanging branches. They then crawl upward under clothing seeking areas of thin skin with good blood flow such as behind the ears, the neck, armpits, groin and behind the knees.
Treating your footwear and lower clothing with permethrin before heading outdoors is one of the most effective prevention strategies.
Stage 4 — Adult (Late Spring through Summer: November to February)
Adult ticks emerge in late spring and peak through summer. Female adults feed before dropping off to lay eggs.
People with existing tick sensitivities can react very quickly after a tick attaches — including severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. In humans, signs of a reaction are generally noticed within twenty-four hours, though sensitive individuals may react much sooner.
In pets, symptoms of tick paralysis typically develop over several days and can be fatal if not treated quickly. By the time weakness, loss of appetite or a changed bark or meow are noticed, the situation can be serious. Seek veterinary attention immediately.
Do not wait to remove a tick. There is no proven minimum attachment time before disease transmission or allergic reaction can occur. Remove ticks immediately and correctly every time.
The complete life cycle takes approximately one year.
What this means for you:
- Check yourself, children and pets year-round — not just spring
- Pay extra attention in late winter and spring when larvae and nymphs are active
- Treat footwear and lower clothing with permethrin before heading outdoors
- When using fine-pointed tweezers for removal — never squeeze, add oils, burn or twist the tick.
TickEase tweezers safely remove ticks at every life stage.
BE TICK AWARE ..
Remember, It Only Takes One Bite To Change Your Life Forever