Bug Identifier
Hard tick
Community identification

Hard tick

Ixodidae

Order & Family
Order: Ixodida, Family: Ixodidae
Size
1mm to 5mm (unfed), up to 15mm (engorged)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Wooded areas, tall grass, and leaf litter

Diet & Feeding

Blood from mammals, birds, and reptiles

Behavior Patterns

Questing behavior where they wait on vegetation to latch onto a passing host to feed for several days

Risks & Benefits

Pathogen transmission risk including Lyme disease and spotted fevers; no ecosystem benefits to humans