American Dog Tick

Tall grass, marshes, and areas of low vegetation near forest edges or walkways where animals travel.

Obligate blood-feeders; larvae and nymphs feed on small mammals like rodents, while adults prefer larger mammals such as dogs, cattle, and humans.

They use a strategy called questing where they climb to the tips of grass to wait for a host to brush by. They have a three-host life cycle that can take up to two years to complete.

Primary vector for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. Their saliva can also cause tick paralysis in hosts. They provide little ecological benefit beyond being a minor food source for some birds and reptiles.