Tick (Identification tentative due to image blur)
Scientific Name: Ixodida (Order)
Order & Family: Ixodida / Ixodidae (Hard Ticks) or Argasidae (Soft Ticks)
Size: 1 mm (larva/nymph) to 10+ mm (engorged adult)
Natural Habitat
Tall grass, wooded areas, leaf litter, and shrubs; found on hosts (mammals, birds, reptiles)
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on blood from vertebrate hosts)
Behavior Patterns
Questing (waiting on vegetation for a host), attaching to skin with specialized mouthparts, feeding for several days
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Vectors for serious diseases (Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis), allergic reactions, and skin infection. Benefits: None to humans; food source for some predators.
Identified on: 2/4/2026