Tick season on Long Island runs from March through November, peaking in May through June and again in September through October. Learn when each species is most active and how to reduce tick pressure in your yard.
Tick season on Long Island runs from March through November, with peak activity in May through June and again in September through October. However, deer ticks (black-legged ticks) remain active whenever temperatures are above 35 degrees F — meaning they can be encountered year-round in mild winters. The Bugs Stop Here provides professional tick treatment for Suffolk and Nassau County properties — call (631) 563-3900 for seasonal tick control scheduling.
Deer Tick (Black-Legged Tick, Ixodes scapularis): The primary concern for Long Island residents. Transmits Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Active year-round when temperatures allow. Nymphs peak May through July; adults peak October through November and March through May.
American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis): The larger, more visible tick. Most active May through August. Transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever but not Lyme disease. Found in open fields, trail edges, and unmown grass throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum): Expanding its range northward into Long Island over the past two decades. Active April through October. Aggressive host-seeking behavior. Transmits ehrlichiosis and STARI. Can cause alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy) with repeated bites.
Suffolk County consistently ranks among the highest counties in the nation for Lyme disease cases per capita. Several factors create this elevated risk:
The most effective single action. A targeted insecticide spray applied to the perimeter of your yard — focusing on the border between lawn and wooded or shrubby areas — reduces tick populations by 70 to 90% for 4 to 8 weeks per application. Timing the first spray in April, before nymphs peak, provides maximum protection through the highest-risk months.
Ticks do not fly or jump — they climb onto hosts from ground-level vegetation. Reducing tick habitat in your yard directly reduces exposure:
Reducing deer entry into your yard reduces adult tick introduction. Deer fencing, repellent plantings (deer-resistant shrubs and perennials), and motion-activated deterrents can reduce deer contact with your property — particularly important for properties in Setauket, Nissequogue, Lloyd Harbor, and other heavily wooded North Shore communities.
The Bugs Stop Here recommends a seasonal tick program for Long Island properties with any wooded border, adjacent open space, or history of tick encounters. A typical program includes:
Products are applied as barrier sprays to vegetation at yard edges, under decks and shrubs, and in the transition zone between lawn and naturalized areas. Re-entry guidelines are typically 30 to 60 minutes after the spray dries. Call (631) 563-3900 to schedule tick treatment for your Suffolk or Nassau County property.
By far the most common tick-borne illness in New York. Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by deer tick bites. Suffolk County reports hundreds of confirmed cases annually — and actual infection rates are estimated to be several times higher. Early symptoms: a bull's-eye rash at the bite site (not always present), fever, fatigue, and joint pain. Early antibiotic treatment is highly effective; delayed treatment can lead to chronic joint, neurological, and cardiac complications.
Transmitted by deer ticks. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and low white blood cell count, typically appearing 1 to 2 weeks after a bite. Treatable with doxycycline. Cases are rising in Suffolk County alongside increasing deer tick populations.
A malaria-like illness transmitted by deer ticks, caused by a parasite that infects red blood cells. More severe in older adults and immunocompromised individuals. Reported cases have increased significantly in Suffolk County over the past decade.
The Bugs Stop Here provides seasonal tick barrier treatment across Suffolk County, Nassau County, Westchester County, and Rockland County. Call (631) 563-3900 to schedule your first application before the May nymph peak — the most important treatment window of the year.
Tick season on Long Island effectively begins in March when temperatures consistently exceed 35 degrees F. Deer ticks (black-legged ticks) are the first to become active and can be present year-round during mild winters. The most dangerous period is May through June, when nymphal deer ticks are at peak density and are small enough to go unnoticed.
Most Long Island properties benefit from 3 applications per season: April (before nymph peak), June (during nymph peak), and September (adult surge). Properties with heavy wooded borders or high deer traffic may benefit from a fourth application. The Bugs Stop Here can assess your specific property and recommend the right number of treatments.
For most barrier spray products, the re-entry interval is 30 to 60 minutes after the treated area is fully dry. Your technician will confirm the specific re-entry time for the product used at your property. Products are applied to vegetation perimeters, not to lawn surfaces where people and pets spend most of their time.
Ticks concentrate at the edges — the transition zone between mowed lawn and wooded, brushy, or naturalized areas. Open, sunny lawn areas have low tick density because ticks desiccate quickly in exposed conditions. The 10 to 15 feet of vegetation along your property border is where 80 to 90% of tick encounters occur. That's why barrier spray targets vegetation margins, not the center of your lawn.
Consumer-grade tick sprays are available but less effective than professional products. More importantly, proper timing, correct product selection for the tick species present, and precise application technique matter significantly. DIY applications often miss key harborage areas or are applied outside the effective timing windows. Professional treatment from The Bugs Stop Here includes product selection and timing optimized for Long Island tick species.
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