Community identification
Tick
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
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.