Dog Tick

Scientific Name: Dermacentor variabilis

Order & Family: Ixodida: Ixodidae

Size: 3mm to 5mm (unfed), can grow significantly larger (up to 15mm) when fully engorged.

Dog Tick

Natural Habitat

Tall grass, brush, and wooded areas, often along trails or paths frequented by mammals.

Diet & Feeding

The blood of mammals, including humans, dogs, and wildlife.

Behavior Patterns

This tick is a 'questing' arachnid that waits on the tips of vegetation to latch onto a passing host. They have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Can transmit serious diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and tularemia to humans and pets. Benefits: None to humans; they serve as a food source for some wildlife like opossums and certain birds.

Identified on: 4/18/2026