Hard tick (Engorged Larva or Nymph)
Scientific Name: Ixodidae (family level)
Order & Family: Order Ixodida, Family Ixodidae
Size: 1mm to 3mm (larvae and nymphs are significantly smaller than adults)
Natural Habitat
Wooded areas, tall grass, and brushy fields; often found on small mammals, birds, or humans.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (blood-feeding); they consume many times their body weight in blood from a host.
Behavior Patterns
Three-host life cycle consisting of egg, larva, nymph, and adult. They 'quest' by waiting on vegetation to latch onto passing hosts.
Risks & Benefits
Significant risk to humans and animals as vectors for diseases such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis. No known ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 3/6/2026