Black-legged Tick (Deer Tick)
Scientific Name: Ixodes scapularis
Order & Family: Order Ixodida, Family Ixodidae
Size: 1 - 3 mm (nymphs), 3 - 5 mm (unfed adults)
Natural Habitat
Wooded areas, tall grasses, and leaf litter where they wait for hosts
Diet & Feeding
Blood from mammals, birds, and reptiles
Behavior Patterns
Wait on vegetation to latch onto a passing host (questing); they go through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult
Risks & Benefits
Primary vector of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis; they provide no significant benefits to humans
Identified on: 7/1/2026