Tick
Scientific Name: Ixodida (multiple genera)
Order & Family: Ixodida / Ixodidae or Argasidae
Size: 1mm to 5mm (unfed), up to 15mm (engorged)
Natural Habitat
Wooded areas, tall grasses, shrubs, and leaf litter
Diet & Feeding
Blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians
Behavior Patterns
Questing (climbing to the ends of vegetation to wait for a host) and dropping off hosts after full engorgement
Risks & Benefits
Significant risk as vectors for diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever; no major ecological benefits to humans
Identified on: 12/30/2025