Community identification
Tick (likely a hard tick)
Ixodidae; exact species cannot be determined from the photo
- Order & Family
- Ixodida, family Ixodidae
- Size
- Typically about 2–10 mm unfed, often larger when engorged.
Natural Habitat
Ticks occur in grass, leaf litter, and wooded or brushy areas; they attach to passing animals or people.
Diet & Feeding
Blood-feeding parasite of mammals, birds, and reptiles; both larvae and nymphs feed on hosts.
Behavior Patterns
Waits on vegetation for a host, attaches and feeds for days, then drops off. The image is too unclear to confirm a tick or assess whether it is engorged.
Risks & Benefits
Some ticks transmit diseases such as Lyme disease or spotted-fever rickettsioses. If found attached, remove promptly with fine-tipped tweezers and clean the bite site.