Brown Dog Tick
Scientific Name: Rhipicephalus sanguineus
Order & Family: Order Ixodida, Family Ixodidae
Size: 3 mm (unfed) to 12 mm (engorged)
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
Identified on: 6/15/2026