Tick (Identification tentative due to image blur)

Tall grass, wooded areas, leaf litter, and shrubs; found on hosts (mammals, birds, reptiles)

Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on blood from vertebrate hosts)

Questing (waiting on vegetation for a host), attaching to skin with specialized mouthparts, feeding for several days

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.