MUNCIE, Ind. -- Temperatures are warming in Indiana, bringing spring rains, flowers and ticks.

Hoosiers should be aware that Indiana is home to 14 varieties of ticks, several species of which can cause illness, says Robert Pinger, a Ball State University entomologist.

"After being cooped up all winter, people like to get out in the parks and other wooded areas," said Pinger, director of Ball State's Public Health/Entomology Laboratory. "People should take precautions when they are out to avoid being bitten by ticks."

While all counties in the state have some species of tick, most people only encounter four varieties, including the American dog tick, the lone star tick, the blacklegged tick and the brown dog tick.

The American dog tick is found in all 92 counties and is the primary carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The lone star tick occurs in southern Indiana and transmits both Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis.

The blacklegged tick carries Lyme disease. This species is firmly established in sparsely populated counties of northwestern Indiana, including Newton, Jasper and Pulaski counties. Diseased ticks have been found only in Newton and Jasper counties. With the help of dogs and deer, the blacklegged tick is moving slowly across the state. This species has now been recorded in 33 Indiana counties, Pinger said.

"The tick is not native to Indiana, but we've seen it transported into the state on dogs," Pinger said. "People will take their show or hunting dogs out of state and then not check them for ticks upon returning."

To avoid being bitten, Pinger suggests:

• wear light-colored clothing when walking in the woods, including long pants and long-sleeved shirts, so that ticks can be spotted easily before they attached. Tuck pants into socks or boots and shirt into pants. Tape area where pants and socks meet to keep ticks from crawling under clothing. A hat can provide extra protection.
• spray insect repellent on clothing and exposed skin. Do not use repellents on small children. 
• when heading home, check carefully for ticks. Also inspect animals and other pets. Wash clothing at high temperatures to kill insects.

Pinger suggests that when an attached tick is found, caution should be taken to remove it with tweezers or blunt curved forceps. Then disinfect the bite area thoroughly and wash hands with soap and water.

Place the tick in an air-tight container after removal. If  the person bitten becomes ill, show the tick to the doctor. Physicians are better able to diagnose a tick-carried disease if they have the tick, he said.