Black-legged Tick

Ixodes species

Ticks feed on the blood of other animals. They can sometimes be seen at the tips of blades of grass with their legs outstretched, waiting for someone like you to brush against them. When they find the right host, they attach their mouthparts to the skin and slowly fill up with blood. As they grow, they shed their skin several times, each time they shed they release their mouthparts, and in some cases they leave the body of their host. Ticks can spread disease from one host to another when they feed on several different animals during their lifetime.

Look For : Adult: reddish brown, oval-shaped. Larva and nymph: the size of a pinhead. Carried by deer and mice.

Length : 1/16-1/8".

Habitat : Brushy fields, woods.

Range : Northeast, upper Midwest, Pacific Coast.