Tick (General)
Scientific Name: Various species depending on region (e.g., Ixodes scapularis for blacklegged tick, Dermacentor variabilis for American dog tick)
Order & Family: Order: Ixodida (Ticks), Superfamily: Ixodoidea (Ticks), Families: Ixodidae (Hard ticks) or Argasidae (Soft ticks)
Size: Unfed larvae are typically less than 1 mm. Nymphs range from 1-2 mm. Adults range from 2-10 mm, but can swell to over 1 cm when fully engorged with blood.
Natural Habitat
Ticks are found globally, typically in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, including tall grass, leaf litter, and shrubs. Some species are adapted to drier environments. They are common in rural areas but can also be found in suburban and urban green spaces.
Diet & Feeding
Blood (hematophagous)
Behavior Patterns
As arachnids, ticks undergo a life cycle that includes four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. They are obligate parasites, meaning they must feed on blood at each active stage to survive and molt to the next stage. Ticks are not active hunters but rather 'quest' for hosts by climbing onto vegetation and waiting for an animal to brush past. They can detect carbon dioxide, body heat, and vibrations. Once on a host, they typically crawl to a protected area, such as behind an ear, in the armpit, or in the groin, to attach and feed. Feeding can take several hours to days.
Risks & Benefits
Ticks are vectors for numerous diseases affecting humans and animals, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus. Their bites can also cause local irritation, allergic reactions, and tick paralysis in some individuals. While they present significant health risks due to disease transmission, their ecological benefits are not widely recognized; they serve as a food source for some animals (e.g., certain birds and reptiles) and are part of the broader food web, though their negative impact on hosts generally outweighs any perceived benefits to humans.
Identified on: 9/4/2025