Bug Identifier
Brown Dog Tick
Community identification

Brown Dog Tick

Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Order & Family
Order Ixodida, Family Ixodidae
Size
3 mm (unfed) to 12 mm (engorged)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide, mainly in and around human dwellings and dog kennels

Diet & Feeding

Blood from hosts, predominantly domestic dogs, but can bite humans

Behavior Patterns

Three-host life cycle; capable of completing its entire life cycle indoors

Risks & Benefits

Transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever, canine ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis