Bug Identifier
Common Tick
Community identification

Common Tick

Ixodida (Order)

Order & Family
Order Ixodida, Family Ixodidae
Size
1mm to 5mm (size increases significantly when fed)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.