Community identification
Embedded Tick (likely Blacklegged Tick / Deer Tick)
Ixodes scapularis
- Order & Family
- Ixodida / Ixodidae
- Size
- 1 - 3 mm (unfed larvae/nymphs/adult females); expands significantly when fully engorged
Natural Habitat
Wooded, grassy, and brushy areas with high humidity
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; feeds exclusively on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles
Behavior Patterns
Quests on vegetation awaiting a host, attaches via hypostome to feed slowly over several days, undergoing metamorphosis between blood meals
Risks & Benefits
Vector for pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Anaplasma, and Babesia; provides minimal ecosystem benefit as a minor food source for some birds and reptiles