Experts say the “tick explosion” predicted for the area on social media will not happen, but the freckle-sized terrorists are here to stay.

Experts say the “tick explosion” predicted for the area on social media will not happen, but the freckle-sized terrorists are here to stay.

Michael Skvarla, director of the insect identification laboratory at Pennsylvania State University, said the prevalence and proximity of the ticks' host animal, and not any weather or climate issues, determine the tick population in Western Pennsylvania.

He said the most common tick in the area is the black-legged tick, which carries Lyme disease and transmits it to humans.

In addition to black-legged ticks, which are the size of a freckle, American dog ticks and Lone Star ticks can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

While the incidence of that disease is low in Pennsylvania, it can be deadly if left untreated.

Expansion of homes into former farms, fields and woods, Skvarla said, has displaced mice and deer and even invited them closer to humans through landscaping.

The situation, he said, is likely a major reason for the increased cases of Lyme disease in Western Pennsylvania.

He said the best way to avoid Lyme disease — which can cause a myriad of symptoms including flu-like symptoms, joint or generalized pain, fatigue and cognitive decline — is avoiding ticks.

Ways to do so include:

[naviga:ul]

[naviga:li]Spraying the shoes, clothing and skin with an insect repellent containing 20 percent DEET[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Checking the entire body for ticks immediately after being outdoors[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Removing brush piles or thick growth where mice and deer might congregate[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Treating lawns with a tick spray that is not harmful to pets or humans[/naviga:li]

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Skvarla delivered the bad news that all Western Pennsylvanians dread: ticks are here to stay and diligence is the only reliable way to prevent Lyme disease.

“It's just kind of the way it is now,” he said.