
Community identification
Common Tick
Ixodida (Order)
- Order & Family
- Order Ixodida, Family Ixodidae
- Size
- 1mm to 5mm (size increases significantly when fed)
Natural Habitat
Wooded areas, tall grass, and leaf litter where they wait for hosts.
Diet & Feeding
Blood from mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles/amphibians.
Behavior Patterns
Questing behavior: they climb to the tips of vegetation and extend legs to latch onto passing hosts.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include the transmission of diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis.