American Dog Tick
Scientific Name: Dermacentor variabilis
Order & Family: Order: Ixodida, Family: Ixodidae
Size: 3 mm to 5 mm in length; can grow up to 15 mm when fully engorged.
Natural Habitat
Grassy fields, walkways, and wooded areas, especially in areas with little or no tree cover.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, including dogs and humans.
Behavior Patterns
Questing behavior involves climbing to the tips of grasses to wait for a host. They undergo four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
Risks & Benefits
Known vector for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. They can cause tick paralysis in humans and pets but play a role in the local food web as prey.
Identified on: 6/23/2026