The two want to study Lyme disease by focusing on the tick population.

"We study the tick population to see what keeps it going and to look for weak spots to attack."

Even if this does not turn out to be correct, the wasps could reduce the tick population by killing the nymphs.

"It takes only one or at most two applications to reduce the tick population and the risk of Lyme by 95 percent," he said.

He cited the weather, which can affect the tick population; the success of public education and the willingness of doctors to report cases.

This reduces the tick population only briefly; when new growth appears, the deer and their ticks are back in full force.

We already know that how many times you see deer in a day is linked with tick population.

In addition to climate, seasonal weather variations have a strong effect on tick populations.

"Right now we're watching the tick population grow," Dr. Fish said.

"On this island you have a human population and a tick population, and we can no longer coexist."