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Pest Library
Size & Characteristics: |
Brown dog tick adults are about 1/8 in (3 mm) long,
but when engorged with blood they are up to 1/2 in (12 mm) long. Body
flattened from top to bottom; male with tiny pits scattered on back;
mouth visible from above. |
Color: |
Reddish brown, but gray-blue or olive color when full of blood. |
Geographic Range: |
Throughout the United States and the world. |
Habitat: |
Brown dog ticks are common on dogs, and in the warm, dry, indoor
conditions in the homes dogs live in, but they seldom attack humans. |
Food: |
Dog blood! |
Biology: |
The engorged female drops off the host dog, but tends to crawl
upwards, depositing 1,000-3,000 tiny dark brown eggs in wall or ceiling
crevices and cracks, and then she dies. Eggs hatch in 19-60 days into
tiny larvae with 6 legs. These "seed ticks" crawl down the
walls and attach to a dog, but can go for 8 months without food or
water. After engorging 3-6 days they enlarge to 1/16 in (2 mm), becoming
blue, then drop off to find a place to molt. In 1-3 weeks they become
reddish-brown nymphs with 8 legs. They attach again and engorge for
4-9 days, growing to 1/8 in (3 mm) and turning dark gray. The nymphs
then drop off, hide and molt into adults in 12-19 days. They seek
a host dog as soon as possible, but can survive up to 18 months before
attachment, after which they engorge 6-50 days and mate. They may
complete this cycle in 2 months, but there are usually only 2 generations
per year in the north, and 4 generations per year in the south. |
Invasion: |
The tendency for brown dog ticks to move upward helps them to find
a host dog. |
Damage: |
Dog ticks are a nuisance to the host animal and the household. Although
they seldom attack humans, they are vectors for several disease organisms. |
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