Blackberry Tick or Seed Tick

Scientific Name: Amblyomma americanum (larval stage)

Order & Family: Ixodida: Ixodidae

Size: 0.5mm to 1mm (approx. the size of a poppy seed)

Blackberry Tick or Seed Tick

Natural Habitat

Tall grass, low-growing vegetation, and wooded areas.

Diet & Feeding

Blood of birds, mammals, and occasionally humans.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae (seed ticks) often gather in large clusters of hundreds or thousands; they quest for hosts by waiting on vegetation to latch on.

Risks & Benefits

Potential vector for diseases such as STARI (Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness) and Ehrlichiosis; can cause intense itching and localized reactions.

Identified on: 1/14/2026