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How long can a tick live in a bed?


Ticks are small parasitic organisms that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. They can often be found in wooded, brushy areas waiting to attach themselves to a passing host. However, ticks may also find their way indoors and into beds. Once brought inside, ticks can survive for surprisingly long periods without a blood meal. But just how long can a tick live in a bed?

How Long Can Ticks Survive Without Food?

Ticks have evolved to survive long periods of time without access to food. This allows them to persist in nature while waiting for a host to feed on. Different tick species have different lifespans when not feeding:

Tick Species Survival Without Food
Deer tick Up to 2 years
American dog tick Up to 8 months
Lone star tick Up to 16 months
Brown dog tick Up to 18 months
Wood tick Up to 4 years

As you can see, even the least hardy species, the American dog tick, can survive over half a year without feeding. More robust species like the wood tick can go up to 4 years without a blood meal.

Ticks in Beds Can Survive for Months

Since beds indoors provide relatively stable temperature and humidity, ticks that find their way into beds can survive for many months without feeding. Here are some more specifics:

– Deer ticks can live up to 100 days in beds. Their small size allows them to hide in cracks and crevices.
– Lone star ticks may persist 140 days or more. Females that have already fed can survive even longer to lay eggs.
– American dog ticks can endure at least 4 months in a bed before dying of starvation.
– Brown dog ticks are tougher and can potentially live up to 9 months in a bed without feeding.
– Wood ticks are the hardiest and can survive 18 months or more in beds when they’ve gone undetected.

In summary, while exact survival times depends on the species, ticks can generally live for many months inside beds without taking a blood meal.

Where Do Ticks Hide in Beds?

When living in a bed, ticks will seek out any small cracks, crevices, or protected areas. This helps conserve energy and protect from exposure while waiting for a potential host. Common tick hiding places in beds include:

– Fabric folds and seams in mattresses and box springs
– Under mattress tags and labels
– Inside slats of bed frames
– Under or behind headboards
– Inside cracks of wooden bed frames
– Under bed skirts and sheets touching the floor
– Inside pillow cases and under pillows
– Folded sheets and linens left on the bed
– Inside comforters and quilts

Ticks are master hitchhikers so they can end up in virtually any crevice on a bed where they can avoid being crushed or visible. Carefully checking all surfaces is key to detecting them.

Do Ticks Lay Eggs in Beds?

Adult female ticks that have fed on blood often lay 3,000-6,000 eggs in a protected batch before dying. Can this happen inside a bed?

Yes – engorged female ticks can absolutely survive long enough in a bed to lay a full egg clutch. The eggs are tiny (about the size of a poppy seed), so they can be deposited in many small spaces suitable for hatching.

Some common places ticks may lay eggs in beds:

– In slats, cracks, and corners of bed frames
– Under carpeting near the bed
– In soft furnishings like headboards
– Inside box springs or mattresses
– At the interface where the box spring meets the mattress
– Inside pillows and cushions on the bed

The eggs are resilient and can hatch into larval ticks within a month or two. The tiny young ticks may then live in the bed for many more months before finding a host.

Do Ticks Bite in Beds?

Ticks that have already found a host will latch on and feed until full. But ticks hiding in a bed looking for their next meal cannot bite humans while waiting. This is because:

– Ticks detect hosts primarily by sensing exhaled carbon dioxide, body heat, and vibrations. Hidden ticks are unlikely to detect these signals.
– Ticks typically quest at rest at the top of foliage or grass to latch onto passing hosts. They do not actively seek hosts inside beds.
– A tick bite requires the tick to firmly embed its mouthparts into skin. This is unlikely to happen without pressure between the tick and skin.

However, tick bites in beds can still occur when:

– The tick gets trapped next to exposed skin in bed sheets or pajamas. The tick may then bite instinctively.
– When a body part, such as a leg, presses a tick against the skin in the bed, allowing it to bite.
– Pets sleep in the bed, giving ticks access to bite companion animals.

Overall though, untethered ticks in beds by themselves are unlikely to successfully bite. Their small size helps them remain hidden and conserve energy.

Can Ticks Spread Disease in Beds?

Certain tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease require the tick to be attached and feeding for at least 36-48 hours before they can transmit the pathogen into the host. Since loose ticks in beds will not typically have a chance to feed, the risk of getting a tick-borne disease from a tick living in a bed is low.

However, there are some exceptions. Ticks may immediately transmit other pathogens right after biting, before they are fully engorged. These diseases include:

– Tularemia
– Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
– Q Fever
– Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever

The chances are still low, but it’s possible to contract these illnesses from an infected tick that manages to bite while inside a bed. Any tick bite or rash should be checked by a doctor.

How to Find Ticks in Beds

The best way to detect ticks in beds is through active, thorough searches. Some tips:

– Inspect removable bed parts like headboards carefully. Look in screw holes, joints, and the back.
– Use a bright flashlight to search cracks and crevices around bed frames and box springs.
– Check under mattress labels. Remove any bedspreads or mattress covers to inspect everywhere.
– Look along seams, tufts, and folds on mattresses with a flashlight.
– Pull up bed skirts and inspect the underside of box springs thoroughly. Ticks like protected fabric undersides touching the floor.
– Look under pillows and deep inside pillowcases closely.
– Inspect sheets, blankets, comforters, and other bedding by feeling for tiny bumps. Wash bed linens frequently.
– Peer into tiny cracks in wooden slats, frames, and paneling in wicker or cloth beds.
– Have a second person help visually scan the bed and confirm nothing was missed.

Repeatedly and thoroughly checking all parts of the bed is key to finding hiding ticks. Molted tick skins may also be a clue that ticks were previously living in the bed unnoticed.

How to Remove Ticks from Beds

If you do discover a tick inside the bed, there are a few options for removal and eradication:

For loose, crawling ticks:

– Use a cotton ball soaked with rubbing alcohol to kill individual ticks. The alcohol acts as a neurotoxin to kill the tick quickly.
– Apply a small amount of insecticide spray labelled for tick killing directly onto loose ticks. Follow all label instructions carefully.
– Use sticky tape or tweezers to pick up and trap any loose ticks you find. Drown the ticks in alcohol or flush them down the toilet.

For ticks on mattresses:

– Use disposable gloves and manually remove the tick with tweezers grasped close to skin. Pull straight up with steady pressure.
– Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water or disinfectant.
– Vacuum mattresses thoroughly after tick removal. The vibrations can draw out other ticks from hiding. Pay close attention when vacuuming seams.
– Consider getting a mattress or box spring cover that fully encases the bed and seals out any remaining ticks. Leave on for at least a year.

For ticks on wooden bed frames:

– Once all visible ticks are removed or killed, apply a residual insecticide labeled for ticks in cracks and crevices of wooden frames.
– Pay special attention to bed slats, screw holes, joints, and panel grooves. Follow label safety precautions.
– Caulk and seal larger cracks and joints in wooden frames after treating to help keep ticks out.

With persistence and thoroughness, it is possible to fully eradicate ticks from beds and prevent future infestations. But they can hide quite well, so repeated searches are key. Getting rid of clutter around the bed also helps reduce tick access to the bed. With preventive measures, ticks won’t have a chance to set up long-term residence in your bedding.

Conclusion

Ticks are champion hitchhikers capable of surviving many months inside human beds without feeding. Their small size allows them to hide in cracks, fabric folds, and tight spaces like bed slats and box springs. While unattached ticks in beds cannot actively bite humans, they can still pose a disease threat through bites from companion animals or accidental pressing against skin. And engorged female ticks may lay thousands of resilient eggs inside beds. Regular tick searches, treatment of infested bedding, and thorough cleaning can eliminate bed tick infestations and prevent future tick inhabitants. With diligence, you can ensure your bed remains a tick-free sanctuary.