Tick

Scientific Name: Ixodida (Order)

Order & Family: Order Ixodida, Families Ixodidae (hard ticks) or Argasidae (soft ticks)

Size: 1 to 5 millimeters before feeding; can grow much larger when engorged

Tick

Natural Habitat

Tall grass, brush, and wooded areas where they can wait for hosts

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians

Behavior Patterns

Questing behavior (waiting on edges of vegetation to latch onto passing hosts); life cycle includes egg, larva, nymph, and adult stages

Risks & Benefits

Significant disease vectors; known to transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other pathogens. They provide no significant benefits to humans.

Identified on: 5/5/2026