American Dog Tick

Natural Habitat

Tall grass, woodlots, shrubby areas, and trails commonly frequented by mammals

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagy; feeds on the blood of small mammals as larvae/nymphs and dogs or humans as adults

Behavior Patterns

Wait for hosts via 'questing' on vegetation; can survive for long periods without food through a complex three-host life cycle

Risks & Benefits

Major risk to humans as vectors for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia; no significant ecological benefits recorded for humans

Identified on: 6/10/2026