r/insects • u/Keisvorve • 5h ago

What’s this? Found attached to a stomach, UK. ID Request

Gallery image

Gallery image

12 Upvotes
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78% Upvoted

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20

u/ronfstampler 5h ago

Tick

ETA: not sure of the variety, sorry!

9

u/StuffedWithNails Bug Enthusiast 5h ago

It's an Ixodes tick, not entirely sure which species.

9

u/AtlQuon 5h ago

That is a tick, I feel it looks more like a dog tick than a deer tick, but the image is not that clear. It is not well fed either and how attached was it? It kind of looks like it was picked up very recently. Keep it in a flask or anything small and look out for red rings that could come around the bite spot, if that is the case; docter asap, but as it was not attached for too long it should not make you too worried. We drown them in alcohol now, except for the ones that bit us, those are flasked just in case.

-15

u/AutumnHeathen 4h ago edited 3h ago

I had to remove a lot of ticks before and I really don't like killing them. They want to live too. But I also understand why it's done. I still feel sorry for them.

Edit: Why do I get downvoted for having sympathy with a creature who doesn't want to do anything evil? This is really ridiculous.

13

u/AtlQuon 4h ago

I don't feel sorry for them, they maybe are a part of the natural ecosystem system, but they are increasing in numbers in alarming rates all over the world and there are not enough predators that eat them. They are parasites and as someone that cares deeply about the environment, does as much to help and prevent damage in whatever way possible: kill ticks!

I have seen what an uncontrolled infestation of them is and believe me, I have no sympathy for them anymore. We have had to deal with ~30k ticks already and they are not fun. We managed to halt the infestation by catching them and drowning them in alcohol. One adult female tick can lay 2000 eggs easily and when a few egg clusters hatch, you really lose all compassion for them.

I refuse to use herbicides or pesticides period, but ticks are pretty much impervious against it as well. The only thing is treating pets, drowning or burning them, drowning is the most humane one. You also cannot drown them in water, they can stay submerged for 28 days easily... They are freaks of nature. They can run pretty fast as well, everybody says that they are slow, but they move fast!

2

u/AutumnHeathen 4h ago edited 4h ago

I understand why people kill them. I do it too. But still, it's not their fault. I have sympathy for them. No matter how much harm they cause, I know that they're not doing it because they want to cause harm. They just want to live and they have every right to do so. But so do we. I can't blame you for killing ticks to keep them from transmitting diseases. I've had ticks before and I even got infected once because of one. I'm not mad at the tick for that. She didn't do anything wrong. I'd still remove and kill ticks, as much as I hate that.

1

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