Scientific name: Argas reflexus Family: Argasidae Order: Ixodida Risk level: Moderate Category: Crawling pests
? What is a pigeon tick
The pigeon tick (Argas reflexus) is a soft tick. Unlike hard ticks, it feeds for a short time and then returns to its environment rather than remaining attached to its host for days. It lives in roofs and wall cavities near pigeon nests. If pigeons are absent, it may attack people.
Pigeon tick life cycle
Its three-stage life cycle (larva, nymph and adult) takes 2–3 years. Each stage requires one blood meal to mature.
Where pigeon ticks occur
They occur in several regions. Medically important species are found in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the MENA region.
Damage and risks associated with pigeon ticks
Their bites cause acute allergic reactions in some people, ranging from localized hives to documented anaphylactic shock. In some regions, they transmit Borrelia anserina and Coxiella burnetii.
Signs of pigeon ticks
Signs include a tick attached to a person or animal, a raised temperature and itching at the attachment site, and exposure to grassy or wooded environments or animals.
Where pigeon ticks are found
They occur on rooftops and in building cavities where pigeons nest, behind cockroaches and in roof gaps, and inside beam spaces.
Pigeon tick control methods
Check people and animals after visits to risk areas. Wear long sleeves. Use DEET or permethrin repellents. Check pets regularly.
Pigeon tick control products
Use permethrin to treat clothing and animal environments, fipronil for pets, and ivermectin for livestock.
Food-facility control requirements
FSSC/BRCGS: ticks in outdoor areas of food facilities pose a health risk to workers and must be documented in the occupational risk assessment.
A fact about pigeon ticks
Pigeon ticks can survive for five full years without a blood meal, one of the longest fasting periods among ticks. Removing pigeons from a roof alone therefore does not solve a tick problem; the environment still needs treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What should I do if I find a tick on my body?
A: Remove it immediately with fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp it near the skin by the head and pull slowly and steadily. Do not twist, burn or apply anything to it. Keep it for identification.
Q: Is every tick bite dangerous?
A: No. Most tick bites are harmless, but some species transmit serious diseases. Prompt removal is important; most pathogens need 24–48 hours of attachment to transmit
