


Haller’s organs contain receptors that help ticks 'smell the air' when they wave their front legs around," explains Troyano. "Ticks detect their hosts through special organs located on their front legs called Haller’s organs. Tick repellent works by interfering with the receptors a tick uses to detect a host, says Nancy Troyano, an entomologist at Ehrlich Pest Control. Like sunscreen, you’ll need to reapply throughout the day, so read the label and spray it on accordingly. Not all tick repellents are created equal, and you can’t just spray some on and expect it to last all day, either. The Tick Guy), PhD, director of the Center for Vector-Borne Disease and its TickEncounter Resource Center at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. It's also smart to cover up with a light-colored long sleeve shirt (which makes it easier to identify tiny ticks) and wear long pants or leggings tucked into your socks to create a seal to help keep out crawlers, suggests Thomas Mather (a.k.a. So do your best to stick to the center of well-worn walking paths. Naturally, ticks like hanging out in woodsy, high-humidity areas like rock walls, underbrush, leaves, and tall grasses.

If your yard is on the wild side or you’ve got plans to go hiking, camping, or walking through the forest or mountains, you’re in prime tick territory, per the CDC. Think ahead about your environment and exposure risk. Here’s what you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones as tick-free as possible. From then on, all you need to do is steer clear of tick hot spots, reapply tick spray as necessary, and remember to do regular tick checks as you go. A little planning ahead really pays off, so make sure you’ve got the right gear, clothing, and tick repellent before you head into the woods. The key to avoiding tick bites is to be familiar with where you might run into them and take steps to reduce your risk of picking them up when you’re in those areas.
#TICK REPELLENT FOR HUMANS HOW TO#
So, how do you keep these teensy bugs far away from you? Here, your guide to how to prevent tick bites, plus a handy list of the best tick repellents on the market, with insight from tick pros.
