The season for Ticks has arrived and for anyone spending time in highland forests they're almost impossible to avoid. The two adults illustrated above are well fed and measure about 11mm x 6mm. The one on the left is viewed from the underside and the right hand one from above. Their life cycle goes from egg to adult in three stages, increasing in size from less than a millimetre to about 2 to 3mm as adults, with the female being the larger.
There are a number of ways in which you can minimise coming into contact with them and if you do get bitten, remove the offending tick as soon as possible to try and avoid contracting Lyme disease (Borreliosis).
For information about all aspects of avoidance and removal go to http://www.tickbitepreventionweek.org/index.html
