Community identification
American Dog Tick
Dermacentor variabilis
- Order & Family
- Ixodida, Ixodidae
- Size
- 3mm to 15mm (larger when engorged)
Natural Habitat
Grassy fields, walkways, and wooded areas with low vegetation
Diet & Feeding
Blood from mammals such as dogs, cattle, and humans
Behavior Patterns
Engages in 'questing' by waiting on the tips of grass or shrubs to latch onto passing hosts; life cycle includes four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
Risks & Benefits
Potential vector for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tulsaemia; can cause tick paralysis in hosts. No known benefits to humans or ecosystems.