Engorged Tick

Scientific Name: Ixodidae family (e.g., Ixodes scapularis or Dermacentor variabilis)

Order & Family: Order: Ixodida; Family: Ixodidae

Size: 3-5mm unfed; up to 10-15mm when fully engorged (as seen in image)

Engorged Tick

Natural Habitat

Found in wooded areas, tall grasses, and leaf litter where they wait for hosts.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood-feeders, consuming blood from mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles.

Behavior Patterns

Uses a technique called 'questing' to latch onto hosts; can remain attached for several days until fully engorged before dropping off.

Risks & Benefits

Significant risk to humans/animals as vectors for diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis. They provide no significant ecological benefits to humans.

Identified on: 4/17/2026