(Argas reflexus)
Biology:
The pigeon tick belongs to the leather tick family. It has a flat, egg-shaped, brownish-red body and is 8 to 11 mm in size as an adult.
The ticks have a long development cycle and are capable of starving for several years. They can live for up to 10 years and are extremely resistant to extreme temperatures. Their main hosts are primarily feral domestic pigeons. They often live in their nests in old buildings and from there enter attics. Here they can become very troublesome for humans under certain circumstances.
Damage:
The pigeon tick sucks blood, especially from young pigeons, chickens and ducks, which can weaken them if they are heavily infested. Their presence in pigeon lofts and chicken coops is therefore undesirable.
If there is a lack of winged hosts, the ticks migrate into neighboring homes and infest people there. The bites cause severe itching and can lead to purulent inflammation and poorly healing wounds. People who are sensitized to ticks can sometimes suffer severe allergic reactions.
Tip:
Attics should be sealed against pigeons. An infestation of pigeon ticks in old buildings is very difficult to control and should generally be carried out by professional pest controllers.
