
Community identification
Hard tick
Ixodidae
- Order & Family
- Order: Ixodida, Family: Ixodidae
- Size
- 1mm to 5mm (unfed), up to 15mm (engorged)
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