American Dog Tick

Commonly found in areas with little or no tree cover, such as grassy fields, walkways, and trails.

Hematophagous (blood-feeding); larvae and nymphs feed on small mammals, while adults prefer dogs and other large mammals, including humans.

Four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. They exhibit 'questing' behavior by climbing to the tips of grass or shrubs to wait for a host to pass by.

A major risk to humans as they are primary vectors of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and tularemia; they can also cause tick paralysis. They provide no significant benefits to humans.