Dog Tick

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.

Identified on: 5/18/2026