American Dog Tick

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.

Identified on: 5/5/2026