A seasoned bushwalker’s outing in northern New South Wales has turned into a stark warning for Australians heading into the bush ahead of winter, after she was hospitalised with hundreds of tick bites.
Michelle Colpus, a nurse from the state’s Northern Rivers region, unknowingly walked into a cluster of tick larvae during a recent visit to Nightcap National Park. What began as a routine nature walk quickly escalated into a distressing medical ordeal.
Colpus had spent several hours exploring the park with a friend, photographing insects and fungi along a short stretch of trail. It wasn’t until she returned home and stepped into the shower that she realised something was wrong. “I started getting itchy and welts appeared on one of my arms,” she said. “It just went crazy from there.”
At first, her husband suspected she had brushed against a prickly plant. As he began removing what looked like tiny splinters with tweezers, more welts continued to appear across her body. “Next minute, I’m just covered and he couldn’t keep up,” she said.
After more than an hour of trying to remove the tiny invaders, Colpus used a macro camera lens to get a closer look—revealing the shocking truth. The specks embedded in her skin were paralysis ticks. She believes she had brushed against a cluster of larval ticks, which likely clung to her hair before spreading across her body during her shower.
Despite her medical background, the situation quickly escalated. Colpus applied a topical treatment designed to kill ticks and took an antihistamine, but soon began to feel unwell and sought hospital care. “By the time I got there, I said, ‘I’ve got about 400 paralysis ticks’, and they thought I was actually crazy,” she said.
Health experts warn that tick activity remains high in autumn, particularly in coastal bushland areas of eastern Australia. Larval ticks, often referred to as “seed ticks,” can attach in large numbers and are easily overlooked due to their tiny size.
Authorities are urging bushwalkers to take precautions, including wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and thoroughly checking their bodies after outdoor activities.
Colpus’s experience serves as a sobering reminder that even experienced hikers are not immune to the hazards of the Australian bush—and that vigilance is essential during peak tick season.
Why it’s dangerous
- Paralysis ticks aren’t just unpleasant—they can be medically serious:
- They release a toxin that can cause tick paralysis
- Some people develop severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis
- Large infestations (like Michelle’s) increase the risk of systemic illness
- Why this time of year matters
In autumn, conditions are ideal for larvae and nymph ticks:
- Warm, humid environments
- Dense bushland and leaf litter
- Increased outdoor activity before winter
- Places like Nightcap National Park are beautiful—but also prime tick habitat.
How to protect yourself: If you’re heading into the bush:
Before you go
- Wear long sleeves and long pants (light-coloured helps spot ticks)
- Tuck pants into socks
- Use insect repellent with DEET or picaridin
While walking
- Avoid brushing against vegetation
- Stick to the centre of trails
- Be cautious when stopping to sit or photograph near ground cover
Afterwards (this is critical)
- Shower as soon as possible
- Check your entire body (including scalp, behind ears, groin, armpits)
- Wash clothes in hot water