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Pest Library
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Size:
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Larvae are about 1/32" (0.7-0.8mm) long, with 6
legs. Nymphs measure about 1/16" (1.1-1.8mm) long, with 8 legs.
Adult females are about 1/8" (2.7 mm) long; males are smaller
by about 1/16"/ 2 mm. Sizes are larger after a blood meal. |
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Characteristics:
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The black legged/deer tick body is oval, dorsoventrally flattened
(top to bottom), and is not hard-shelled. Eyes are lacking. Toothed
median mouthpart is sharply pointed and visible from above. |
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Color:
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Adult female body is orangish brown, but the abdomen is darker when
engorged. Legs, mouthparts and scutum (dorsal shield just behind mouthparts)
are dark reddish brown. Adult males are reddish brown overall. |
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Geographic Range:
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Black legged/deer ticks are primarily found in the northeastern,
midwestern, and southeastern states in the United States, but extend
into Mexico. |
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Comparison with other species:
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The scutum (dorsal shield) of the Pacific/ western blacklegged tick
(Ixodes pacificus) is almost round (subcircular). Soft ticks (Argasidae)
lack a scutum, and their mouthparts are not visible from above. |
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Habitat:
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Blacklegged/ deer ticks climb grass and shrubs to wait for a passing
host, and move very little laterally. They concentrate on such vegetation
located in transitional areas/zones (called ecotones) such as where
forest meets field, mowed lawn meets unmowed fence line, a foot/animal
trail through high grass or forest. Because these transitional areas
or edge habitats are where most animals travel at some time each
24-hour period, this is where the ticks are most likely to acquire
a host.
The other habitat most likely to harbor ticks is the den, nest or
nesting area of its host such as that of skunks, raccoons, opossums,
but especially the white-footed mouse. The white-footed mouse prefers
woody or brushy areas. It nests in any place that gives shelter
such as below ground, in stumps, logs, old bird or squirrel nests,
woodpiles, buildings, etc.
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Food:
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Blacklegged ticks require blood meals to complete each stage of
their life cycle. They feed from a wide range of hosts. |
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Biology:
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The lifecycle of the black legged/deer tick (egg to egg) is usually
completed in two years. Eggs laid in the spring hatch several weeks
later into six-legged larvae, which can be found June through September.
They feed for 3-9 days but only once, usually on small mammals such
as mice, chipmunks, voles, etc., but the preferred larval host is
the white-footed mouse. Larvae feeding before September molt promptly
and overwinter as 8-legged nymphs; those feeding later will molt
the following spring.
In year 2, the nymphs seek the next blood meal to molt into an adult
tick. They feed for 3-8 days but only on one host during the summer,
usually on mice or larger mammals such as squirrels, raccoons, opossums,
skunks, dogs, and humans, or on birds. Nymphs can be found from
April through August, with the population usually peaking in June
or July. These fed nymphs then require 25-56 days to molt into adults
in autumn.
The adults attach primarily to the white-tailed deer, engorge, and
mate. The male tick dies after mating but the female continues to
feed until egg development is completed and remains on the deer
until spring, when she drops off to lay up to 3,000 eggs. Shortly
after her eggs are laid, the female dies.
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Damage:
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Tick-borne illnesses - the blacklegged tick is a major vector for
Lyme Disease, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis. A single
blacklegged tick can be co-infected with two or even all three of
these disease organisms, and therefore has the potential to transmit
more than one infection simultaneously. |
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