Soft Tick (likely a Pigeon Tick or Fowl Tick)
Scientific Name: Argasidae family (likely Argas reflexus)
Order & Family: Order: Ixodida, Family: Argasidae
Size: 3mm to 10mm (0.1 to 0.4 inches) depending on life stage and level of engorgement.
Natural Habitat
Typically found in bird nests (especially pigeons) or poultry houses, and often in cracks/crevices of structures near where hosts roost.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders; they primarily feed on the blood of birds but will bite humans if their preferred hosts are removed or if they are in close proximity.
Behavior Patterns
Unlike hard ticks, soft ticks are multi-host parasites that take several short blood meals. They are nocturnal and hide in crevices during the day, coming out at night to feed quickly on a sleeping host.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Their bites can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis in sensitized individuals. They can transmit pathogens like Borrelia species. They offer no notable benefits to humans or the ecosystem as they are parasites.
Identified on: 4/12/2026