Advice
Ticks in the UK: how to recognise them and avoid tick bites
A tick is a small, spider-like creature that feeds on blood: about the size of a poppy seed before it feeds, and as big as a baked bean once it has fed, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). You avoid tick bites by staying on clear paths, covering your skin and checking yourself for ticks after being outdoors. Below you can read what ticks look like, when and where they are active in the UK, what really keeps them off and when to see your GP.
In this article
What does a tick look like?
A tick looks like a tiny spider; once it has fed, its body swells up. Ticks are arachnids, not insects, and are related to mites and spiders, says UKHSA. Before feeding, a tick is about the size of a poppy seed; a fully fed female can be as big as a baked bean. The illustration above shows the stages side by side: larva, nymph, adult female and a fully fed female. When you check your skin, UKHSA advises looking out for anything as small as a speck of dirt or a freckle.
What are the life stages of a tick, and which one bites most?
A tick goes through four stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult. According to UKHSA, the larva, nymph and adult each need one blood meal, lasting a few days, before they move on to the next stage; an adult female then lays several thousand eggs on the ground. The whole life cycle takes on average three years. People are most commonly bitten by nymphs, which are small and difficult to spot.
Which ticks live in the UK?
The tick that most commonly bites people in the UK is Ixodes ricinus, known as the sheep tick, castor bean tick or deer tick. UKHSA counts around 20 tick species in the UK; despite its names, this one feeds on a wide range of mammals, birds and some reptiles, as well as people. You can send a tick to the Tick Surveillance Scheme of UKHSA for identification.
When is tick season in the UK, and what is the worst month?
Tick season usually runs from March to October, but it can last longer, says NHS inform, the health information service for Scotland. According to UKHSA, the riskiest months are April to June, when nymphs are most active. Ticks are found all year round, so a tick bite in winter is possible too.
| Months | Tick activity in England (UKHSA) |
|---|---|
| March | nymph activity increases in spring |
| April to June | peak of nymph activity: highest risk of a tick bite |
| July and August | nymph activity drops; adults and larvae are more active in summer |
| September and October | activity picks up again in early autumn |
| November to February | activity continues at a much lower level |
Ticks are very sensitive to temperature and humidity, UKHSA explains; according to NHS inform, wet weather and warmer temperatures make ticks active for longer in the year.
Where do you pick up ticks?
You pick up ticks in woodland, grassland, moorland and heathland, and in some urban parks, gardens and allotments: anywhere with dense vegetation that stays humid near the ground, according to UKHSA. Ticks are often numerous at the edges of woodland and scrub. They do not fly or jump: they wait on the tips of plants, sense the warmth and carbon dioxide of a passing animal or person, and climb on as you brush past.
Can ticks get into your house or garden?
Ticks can get into your garden if there is dense vegetation and wildlife: UKHSA names gardens and allotments as places where ticks live. Indoors they cannot breed: according to UKHSA, the common UK tick only survives if its eggs are laid outdoors in suitable habitat. They can come inside on your clothes or in the fur of your pets. NHS inform advises removing ticks from yourself and your clothes before washing; a tick on clothing, a carpet or bedding can be picked up with tweezers, wrapped tightly in tape and put in an outside bin.
How do you prevent tick bites?
You prevent tick bites by keeping ticks away from your skin and checking for them afterwards. The NHS, NHS inform and UKHSA advise:
- walk on clear paths and avoid long grass and dense vegetation;
- wear long trousers tucked into your socks and a long-sleeved top;
- wear light-coloured clothing, so you can spot ticks and brush them off;
- use an insect repellent on exposed skin;
- check your skin and clothes while outdoors and again when you get home, and check your children and pets as well.
What actually repels ticks?
Clothing and a tick check come first; an insect repellent on your skin is the extra step. A repellent contains an active substance such as DEET, icaridin or IR3535. UKHSA describes how an insect repellent, for example DEET, can repel ticks and stop them climbing onto clothing or attaching to skin, and advises always following the manufacturer's guidance. A repellent keeps ticks off; it does not kill them, and it does not replace checking yourself.
Our Super Ninja Mosquito and Tick Repellent contains 20% IR3535 and also protects against ticks. The label gives a protection time for mosquitoes only, not for ticks, so we do not give one for ticks either. Apply it to exposed skin, for example your ankles and legs when you walk through long grass, and still do your tick check afterwards.
Authorisation number in the UK: UK-2020-1247. Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.
Does rosemary or another home remedy keep ticks away?
We know of no research showing that rosemary, lavender, garlic or other scents keep ticks off your skin. The NHS and UKHSA do not mention them: their advice is clothing, clear paths, an insect repellent and the tick check. If you like a scent, see it as something extra and not as protection.
How do you check yourself for ticks?
Look and feel for ticks, also in places you cannot see easily. UKHSA names skin folds, armpits, groin, wrists, the waistband area, behind the knees, the back of the neck and the hairline. When you get home, take your clothes off and check yourself properly. Adults are mostly bitten on the legs, children on the head or neck, according to UKHSA, so check around a child's neck, behind the ears and along the hairline. A tick bite often does not hurt, so you may not notice it.
What should you do if you find a tick?
Remove it as soon as possible with fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool: grip it as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards slowly, without squeezing it, as the NHS and UKHSA advise. Step by step, with what not to do and what to do afterwards, in our article how to remove a tick step by step.
What about ticks on dogs and cats?
Ticks feed on lots of different animals, so you may find them on your pets too, says UKHSA; check them after walks. You remove a tick from a dog or cat the same way: grip it close to the skin and pull it out slowly. Ask your vet about tick treatment for your pet. Our spray is for people only, not for animals.
When should you see a GP after a tick bite?
See a GP after a tick bite when you feel unwell or a rash appears. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have been bitten by a tick, or were in an area with ticks in the past 3 months, and you have a round or oval rash, or flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature, a headache, muscle and joint pain or tiredness (NHS). Tell them you were bitten or have spent time outdoors. According to UKHSA, a small red patch soon after the bite is normal; if it does not go within a couple of weeks or starts to spread, it may indicate Lyme disease.
Sources: UK Health Security Agency (Be tick aware toolkit and leaflet); NHS (Lyme disease); NHS inform (Tick bites). This guide gives general information and does not replace advice from your GP or NHS 111.
