Pet of the Week - me!

Today I was adopted by an animal as its "host". I guess that made me "pet of the week" in its mind.

Unfortunately, I was not inclined to tolerate my guest once I realised what it was that was causing me to itch like hell.

I eventually checked in the mirror to see why my neck was sore, and realised I had a little "tenant". I took a photo of the insect "in situ".

I then rang my friend George, to ask if he would:

1. take a clean photo for me; and then
2. please carefully remove my guest.

By this time I had worked out that it was a Tick, but I didn't know if it was "just a scrub tick".

Well, several hours later, I have looked at the photos and it is apparent that my tick was in fact a Paralysis Tick - even if it is a very small one.

DJW EDIT: To clarify:

This is a real live Paralysis Tick, which had nearly paralysed
a puppy of my friends Steve and Celeste.

My Tick was smaller than this. That's because it had been discovered and removed within a few hours. It had not time to swell to its full bloated size, which is when they are usually causing paralysis of dogs.

Another shot of the Tick which nearly killed my friend's dog.

Comparing "my" tick with this one, I am confident that they are the same species.

Damned glad George was able to get it out totally (which took some concentrated effort). Now all I have to do is resist the temptation to scratch my neck. I have a considerable swelling, several inches long, by about an inch from top to bottom.

This is the first Tick I had found on myself in 5 years. The previous one was contracted in Sydney. I was out and about yesterday, on Tourist Road and also at Manning Lookout - both are potential tick sites. However, as it was a fresh attack, perhaps the Tick had stayed overnight in my car, then attached itself to me this morning, when I got back in the car.

The alternative (that it attached itself to me in Robertson), is puzzling, for it would be the first Paralysis Tick attack that I know of, from Robertson proper. I do know they occur in the district, but usually closer to the escarpment, or at lower levels - on the Sandstone plateaux below Robertson.

FURTHER EDIT
THIS IS SAID TO BE THE SAFEST WAY TO REMOVE TICKS.
THE TOOL " A TICK TWISTER" IS AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA.

Tick removal with O'TOM Tick Twister
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