What's with all the deer keds?

[Curmudgeon]

In recent years, I've killed a number of deer that were covered with deer keds. Last fall I was picking them off myself after skinning a deer. I've been bitten by them a few times. Over the last 3 days, Mrs. C and I have been pulling them off ourselves after walking the property. I don't think I've ever gotten them on me when I wasn't handling a freshly killed deer. I just read in wikipedia they might be a vector for lyme disease.

For anyone who isn't familiar with this pest, they are a 1/4" long cervid parasite from Eurasia. I believe they were brought to the states with exotic deer species. Here are some shots from google images showing both before and after the wings are shed. For more information go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipoptena_cervi

 

 

Edited October 13, 2017 by Curmudgeon
typo

[Rattler]

I blame the coyotes! 

 

[Curmudgeon]

I blame the coyotes too! If they were any good at killing deer, this wouldn't be a problem.

[Rattler]

1 minute ago, Curmudgeon said:

I blame the coyotes too! If they were any good at killing deer, this wouldn't be a problem.

LOL!  No, the dead deer cause the problem. 

[growalot]

Dang! now you have me worried...River was covered in bites while playing in their yard...they swelled, festered and he had to go to the Dr. ...Whom probably doen't know of these..and blamed an allergy to skeeter...they are in crazy deer country and bear...Good heads up Will tell them I'll be on the look out never seen them here before...hope it was just skeeters or ground fleas...

[Curmudgeon]

Grow -

If you haven't seen them, maybe they are localized. They've been around here for a long time. Not every deer is loaded with them. What concerns me is that they are getting on us independent of handling deer.

Ratty - Dead deer don't cause the problem. They thrive on live deer. If all the deer were dead, the problem would be solved.

[silent death]

My doe was loaded with them and ticks ...them things can move quick lol 

[grampy]

I too, have had contact with them handling a dead deer. But never had a problem with them just walking around.  With all the infected skeeters and ticks these days, we certainly don't need more of a  bug problem.

[growalot]

Oh I looked that up..never seen them with wings before just the wingless ones on the deer..never knew they bite..deer are always loaded with them.looks like this is a big time for them.

http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/deer-keds

[BowmanMike]

Sometimes i prefer to not know things,this is one of those instances...

[growalot]

Then NEVER go to  this link!!
https://www.qdma.com/10-weird-parasites-live-inside-deer/

 

[Curmudgeon]

1 hour ago, BowmanMike said:

Sometimes i prefer to not know things,this is one of those instances...

Mike,

You must have seen them, right? I can bring some the next time we cross paths. 

[Robhuntandfish]

great something else that can take a shot at me in the woods.   Remember the old days when you just got stung by a bee now and then......

[G-Man]

I've seen them for years..people think They are ticks.. Locally can be bad my friend was covered with few days ago.. Fortunately my place gets Damn cold and freezes the basterds and I have only.seen 1 tick and a few keds in 25 years here..