Tick eggs in your backyard pose a serious threat and should not be ignored, as they can lead to infestations and spread diseases. “Ticks are known to transmit diseases,” with their eggs often hidden in covered outdoor spaces.
**Identification:** Tick eggs are tiny, “the size of a poppy seed,” about 0.5 mm, oval or pear-shaped, and translucent to yellowish. They are laid in clusters on surfaces, plants, or leaf litter. As they age, eggs “might become more opaque” and light brown, with a smooth, glossy texture.
**Dangers:** The main risk is that eggs hatch into larvae capable of transmitting diseases like “Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.”
**Removal:** Contact a professional for advice. If removing a tick from the skin, “gently grasp the tick close to its mouth or head with fine-tipped tweezers” and pull steadily. Dispose of it “by flushing it down the toilet, sealing it in a bag, or putting it in alcohol.”
**Prevention:** Maintain your yard by “mowing the lawn, reducing brush,” and clearing debris. Plant tick-repelling herbs like “mint, rosemary,” and use natural repellents like “cedarwood and neem oils.”
**Reduce Tick Habitats:** Remove deer-attracting plants and “introduce rough textures like lava rock” to deter ticks.