VectorED Network

📢Workshop Announcement📢 We have exciting news! The VectorED Network and PSU Extension are hosting a hands-on ectoparasite workshop at the ESA August meeting in Baltimore, MD on August 10th. 🦟🔬 Learn more and register now! entsoc.org/events/ecopara…

Being able to quickly identify ticks can help you act fast and protect yourself from potential health threats like Lyme disease. Stay informed, stay safe! Tick ID cards: tinyurl.com/mpea7r2w tinyurl.com/2z7kbubc #lymediseaseawareness #lymeawarenessmonth #lymedisease

Keep a Tick ID Card close at hand: in your wallet, car, or first aid kit. Tick ID cards can provide helpful information on identification, how to remove ticks, and prevention methods.

-Thorough Inspection: Check particularly around the eyes, ears, between legs, between toes, around the tail, and around the neck and shoulders. -Pet Protection: Consult a veterinarian for effective tick control options for your pets. #lymediseaseawareness #lymeawarenessmonth

Regularly inspect pets for ticks, especially after they have been outdoors. 🐶 -Physical Check: Run your fingers through their fur to feel for bumps.

Ticks can hide in dark fabrics, but with lighter clothing, you can easily detect them and take preventive measures. Stay vigilant, stay safe! #lymediseaseawareness #lymeawarenessmonth #lymedisease #ticktip #tickprevention

Ready for Summer? Before stepping out, check your closet for light-colored clothing! Light colors make it easier to spot ticks, helping you stay safe during outdoor adventures.

Don’t like DEET? Use the EPA insect repellent finder tool to find the right repellent for you! epa.gov/insect-repelle… #lymediseaseawareness #lymeawarenessmonth #lymedisease #ticktip #tickprevention

Check out PSU Extension's waterproof shower hanger, your handy reminder for thorough tick checks and knowing where to inspect!: extension.psu.edu/tick-shower-ha… #lymediseaseawareness #lymeawarenessmonth #lymedisease #ticktip #tickprevention #vectorednetwork

After being outdoors, even in your backyard, conduct a thorough body check using a mirror. Remember to inspect tricky spots like underarms, ears, belly button, behind knees, in hair, between legs, and around the waist. ✅

This webinar is ideal for educators, evaluators, and professionals looking to better understand and serve their audiences. extension.psu.edu/focus-groups-a… #freewebinar #professionaldevelopment #socialscience #communication

📅 Date: May 14, 2026 ⏰ Time: 2:00 PM EDT 🔗 Register: extension.psu.edu/focus-groups-a… Learn how to: ✔ Design effective focus group questions ✔ Facilitate engaging discussions ✔ Identify key themes in qualitative data ✔ Apply insights to improve programs

It’s time to register for our Focus Groups and Qualitative Data 101 webinar! 🗣️ Join Penn State Extension and VectorED Network for a professional development webinar focused on gaining deeper insights into your audiences. extension.psu.edu/focus-groups-a…

Follow along with us this month to learn more about tick bite prevention tips and tricks! #lymediseaseawareness #lymediseaseawarenessmonth #ticktips #tickprevention

As fall arrives, nymphs molt into adults, seeking out larger hosts like white-tailed deer. Though adults are more visible and more likely to be removed, they can still carry the Lyme disease pathogen. They remain active even during fall and mild winter days.

Not only is May Lyme Disease Awareness Month, but it is also the start of the peak season for blacklegged (deer) tick nymphs. Nymphs emerge in spring, with their peak activity from May to July.

Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing tips, resources, and simple actions you can take to protect yourself, your family, and your community from ticks. #LymeDiseaseAwareness #LymeAwarenessMonth #TickPrevention #VectorBorneDiseases #PublicHealth

May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month 💚 
A time to raise awareness, share knowledge, and support those affected by Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

This spring, take a few minutes each week to Tip, Toss, and Drain containers holding water to help reduce mosquito populations around your home and community. 🦟🏡 Prevention starts in your own backyard! #MosquitoPrevention #TipTossDrain #VectorAwareness #PublicHealth

🌧️🌷 Spring showers can bring more than flowers… they can also create mosquito breeding sites. Even small amounts of standing water in containers around your home like buckets, birdbaths, toys, gutters, or old tires, can become the perfect place for mosquitoes to lay eggs.

Checkout the full lineup and don’t miss our May sessions now coming up:
• Focus Groups and Qualitative Data 101
• Biting Pests: The History of Lyme Disease Explore the series and register here: vectorednetwork.org/webinarseries #PublicHealth #Extension #ProfessionalDevelopment

Hosted by the VectorED Network in partnership with Penn State Extension, this series is designed for Extension educators, public health professionals, and communicators looking to strengthen technical knowledge, outreach, and engagement skills.

Registration is open for our Professional Development Webinar Series: Strengthening Education and Communication in Vector-Borne Diseases. vectorednetwork.org/webinarseries