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I met Tina the Tick for a coffee and scone just off the Superior Hiking trial, deep in the woods. Tina, a black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is also known as a deer tick. She is currently an adult.
Below is a transcription of our conversation, edited for time.
Rob: Thanks again for being here.
Tina: Thanks for having me. It’s nice to break things up.
Rob: Let’s jump in. What is the first thing you want people to know about you? Tina: Well, the elephant in the room. I’m not an insect. I’m an arachnid.
Rob: And what do you hope the average reader does with that information? Tina: Respect. Insects annoy. Arachnids terrify.
Rob: So, don’t swat at you?
Tina: Exactly. What else can I tell you? I’m currently on a quest.
Rob: Great. For those who don’t know, what is a quest?
Tina: Well, “questing” is what every tick does. It’s basically the same thing as waiting. But waiting sounds so passive, like I’m just sunning myself on a dogwood leaf all day. So, we got everyone together and decided waiting was out. Questing was born.
Rob: As long as we’re on renaming projects, there was a time there when they tried to change you from parasite to, um, what was it…
Tina: Sustaining Member.
Rob: That’s it.
Tina: That one didn’t stick, forgive the pun, because at the end of the day, I’m a – and I use this word literally – literally a parasite. Rob: I see. And back to the waiting, err, I mean questing. Do you like it? Tina: Well, coach Phil Jackson said it best. “Sometimes you have to let the game come to you.”
Rob: Interesting. When you’re waiting so long, days, weeks, sometimes months, how do you stay sharp? Tina: Everyone’s got their own approach, but for me I like to think of this as a walking meditation, minus the walking. If I can just be present every single moment, when that mouse or deer or wolf or, if you win the lottery, a human walks by, you’re ready to jump. Rob: (checking notes) Um, you jump?
Tina: Oh, no. That’s just an expression. Ticks cannot jump. It’s annoying because it seems like we really should be able to jump a little bit. In fact, at night, when I do sleep, which isn’t often, I dream about jumping. Not far. Just to the host. (sigh) Maybe someday.
Rob: So, you “climb” onto your host?
Tina: Yes.
Rob: And what are you looking for?
Tina: Ambience. Warm. Damp. If I can find it, warm and damp. On humans, I can do scalps, but my jam is armpits and groins. Some find those areas unseemly. But for me, they’re perfection. Ideal for a feast.
Rob: You’re sucking blood?
Tina: Well, I’m eating. Yes, it’s blood. But I’m not a vampire. This isn’t some kind of forbidden romance. I need blood to live.
Rob: Okay. So, you eat for a few days. I apologize if this is a little awkward. But is this when you might give someone Lyme disease?
Tina: Yes, but what you gotta know is – many ticks do not have Lymes. And most ticks are born without Lymes. I got Lymes from my first host – a field mouse – who was delicious by the way. But Bill got it from a duck. Susie got it from a deer. No one I know got it from a human. So, it’s just one of those things
Rob: Well, I think we’re nearing the end of our time. Thank you.
Tina: I appreciate the conversation. I just want people to know a little bit more about what makes me Tick.
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