Unveiling the Astounding Ability of Hungry Ticks to Utilize Static Electricity for Landing on Humans and Pets

Recent research has shed light on the impressive tactics employed by hungry ticks. It appears that these tiny creatures can employ the power of static electricity to swiftly attach themselves to people, pets, and other animals.

As humans and animals go about their daily routines, they naturally accumulate static charges. Surprisingly, these charges provide ticks with the propulsion needed to secure their next blood meal, as revealed in a study published in the journal Current Biology.

Though the distance covered is minuscule, study author Sam England, an ecologist now affiliated with Berlin’s Natural History Museum, likens it to humans effortlessly ascending three or four flights of stairs in a single bound.

Ticks are considered “ambush predators,” according to Stephen Rich, a public health entomologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Incapable of jumping or flying onto their hosts, ticks instead perch on branches or blades of grass, extending their legs in what is known as “questing,” patiently awaiting the passage of unsuspecting individuals or animals to latch onto and bite.

Previously, it was thought that ticks were limited by their ability to stretch on their tiptoes. However, recent findings indicate that static charges might enable them to extend their reach beyond direct contact.

“They can now actually end up latching onto hosts that don’t make direct contact with them,” England explained.

The researchers focused on a tick species known as the castor bean tick, prevalent across Europe. These bloodsucking pests, along with their relatives, are notorious for transmitting diseases such as Lyme disease to both animals and humans, particularly during the warmer months.

The study revealed that when electrodes were charged and positioned near young ticks, the insects were propelled through the air, skillfully landing on the electrified surfaces.

The study suggests that even a moderate level of static charge, which accumulates on fur, feathers, scales, or clothing through movement, can propel ticks across gaps as small as a few millimeters or centimeters. Although such distances may seem insignificant to us, they represent a considerable leap for these diminutive arachnids.

While future developments may focus on mitigating static charge, experts recommend relying on traditional tick prevention measures, including repellents, to safeguard against tick bites.

The Big Big News Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about tick infestation

More about tick infestation

• Study: Research on ticks using static electricity
• Tick Prevention: Tips for preventing tick bites
• Tick-Borne Diseases: Information on diseases transmitted by ticks
• Tick Behavior: Understanding tick questing behavior