Hard Tick (fragment)
Scientific Name: Ixodidae (Family level identification)
Order & Family: Order Ixodida, Family Ixodidae
Size: 3mm to 5mm unfed, up to 15mm when fully engorged.
Natural Habitat
Woodlands, tall grasses, and leaf litter where they wait for hosts.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; they feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, birds, and occasionally reptiles.
Behavior Patterns
They exhibit questing behavior, climbing plants to wait for a host to brush by. They undergo four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
Risks & Benefits
High risk as vectors for diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Anaplasmosis. They provide no significant benefits to humans.
Identified on: 3/4/2026