Tick
Scientific Name: Ixodida
Order & Family: Order Ixodida, Family Ixodidae (Hard ticks) or Argasidae (Soft ticks)
Size: 1mm to 10mm depending on species and life stage; larger when engorged.
Natural Habitat
Tall grass, wooded areas, leaf litter, and on mammalian or avian hosts.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; they feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Behavior Patterns
Many species use a 'questing' behavior by climbing to the tips of vegetation and waiting for a host to brush by. They undergo several life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
Risks & Benefits
Significant risk to humans and animals as vectors for diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Anaplasmosis. They provide little ecosystem benefit beyond being a food source for some birds and reptiles.
Identified on: 2/20/2026