Researchers from Dalhousie and Acadia University have found that balsam fir needles and their essential oil can effectively kill blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) during winter. These ticks, which transmit Lyme disease, may not survive until spring as a result, potentially reducing the disease’s spread. This study involved placing ticks in tubes exposed to winter conditions and adding balsam fir essential oil or its main components. The results showed that nearly 100% of overwintering ticks were killed by both substances. Whole balsam fir needles took several weeks to achieve this effect, whereas the essential oil was lethal within days at low temperatures (≤ 4°C). However, the essential oil’s efficacy decreased by 50% at room temperature (20°C). These findings suggest that low temperatures enhance the tick-killing effectiveness of balsam fir products, making winter a key season for utilizing low-toxicity tick control methods.
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