Community identification
Dog Tick
Dermacentor variabilis
- Order & Family
- Ixodida, Ixodidae
- Size
- 3mm to 5mm (unfed), can grow up to 15mm when fully engorged.
Natural Habitat
Found in wooded areas, grassy fields, and brushy locations, often clinging to vegetation waiting for a host.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; feeds on the blood of mammals, including dogs, livestock, and humans.
Behavior Patterns
Uses a behavior called questing to find a host by extending legs while perched on plants; has a three-host life cycle including larva, nymph, and adult stages.
Risks & Benefits
Risk of transmitting diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia; no significant ecosystem benefits.