A study by Isis M. Arsnoe et al, examined populations of tick nymphs (Ixodes scapularis), then known carrier of Borrelia bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
What they found is that tick nymphs from the North States tend to be more likely to come in contact with humans who rummage through foliage because of their inherent tendency to quest for food at the stem and top leaves of the plants, as well as scatter on every solid area surrounding them.
Contrary to that, the tick nymphs from South States are less aggressive in moving around to find food and so they are less likely to find themselves in parts of plants or surfaces that a human might also come in contact with.
Their hypothesis confirms the fact there's a lower number of Lyme cases in the South compared to the North States.
Source: "Different Populations of Blacklegged Tick Nymphs Exhibit Differences in Questing Behavior That Have Implications for Human Lyme Disease Risk"
by Isis M. Arsnoe , Graham J. Hickling, Howard S. Ginsberg, Richard McElreath, Jean I. Tsao
Plos One Journal, published May 21 2015.
(It's Open Access)
Note: this post is not a diagnostic tool, it's here for educational purposes and discussion.
What they found is that tick nymphs from the North States tend to be more likely to come in contact with humans who rummage through foliage because of their inherent tendency to quest for food at the stem and top leaves of the plants, as well as scatter on every solid area surrounding them.
Contrary to that, the tick nymphs from South States are less aggressive in moving around to find food and so they are less likely to find themselves in parts of plants or surfaces that a human might also come in contact with.
Their hypothesis confirms the fact there's a lower number of Lyme cases in the South compared to the North States.
Source: "Different Populations of Blacklegged Tick Nymphs Exhibit Differences in Questing Behavior That Have Implications for Human Lyme Disease Risk"
by Isis M. Arsnoe , Graham J. Hickling, Howard S. Ginsberg, Richard McElreath, Jean I. Tsao
Plos One Journal, published May 21 2015.
(It's Open Access)
Note: this post is not a diagnostic tool, it's here for educational purposes and discussion.