
Community identification
Blacklegged tick larva or seed tick
Ixodes scapularis
- Order & Family
- Parasitiformes, Ixodidae
- Size
- Approximately 1 mm or smaller before feeding.
Natural Habitat
Wooded areas, brush, and tall grass where hosts are abundant.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophage relying exclusively on vertebrate blood.
Behavior Patterns
Quest by waiting on vegetation for passing hosts to latch onto.
Risks & Benefits
Can transmit vector-borne pathogens like Lyme disease to humans and animals.