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Ticks
Ticks are small, blood-sucking pests that can carry a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. They’re most active during warm months and are frequently encountered outdoors in wooded areas, tall grasses, and shrubs.
Ticks are not insects—they’re actually arachnids. They have eight legs and don’t have wings or antennae like most insects do.
Being able to identify the species is helpful in the event of a tick bite because it can aid in the diagnosis of potential tick-borne illnesses. The best way to do this is by examining the color and pattern of the scutum.
Pest Species in New York:
American Dog Tick / Wood Tick
Dermacentor variabilis
American dog ticks are mainly found in the eastern United States as well as parts of California.
These ticks are typically active in the spring and summer (between April and August). Their preferred hosts are medium-sized animals like dogs, cats, deer, raccoons, and skunks.
Notable diseases they carry include Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Size: 1/8″ – 1/5″ long (3.5 – 5 mm); about the length of a flax seed; expands up to 3/5″ long (15 mm) after feeding
Color: Brown or reddish-brown with silvery markings
Shape: Flat, oval-shaped body with a small head, large abdomen, and 8 legs; no antennae or wings
Identifying Features
Legs: Adults and nymphs have 8 legs, while larvae have 6 legs; each leg has 7 segments and a tiny claw at the tip
Head: Small, rectangular head with straight mouthparts that are relatively short and broad compared to other tick species
Body: Flat, oval-shaped body and large abdomen with pie crust-shaped grooves (festoons) on the rear edges; females become large and bloated after a blood meal
Scutum: Look for an ornate, mottled-looking scutum with silvery or cream-colored markings; females have a short scutum with a pale halo (about 1/2 the length of the abdomen), while males have a large scutum with pale streaks that covers its entire back
Brown Dog Tick
Rhipicephalus sanguineus
Brown dog ticks mainly feed on dogs and rarely bite humans.
They are widespread around the world, especially in warmer climates. In the northeastern United States, brown dog ticks are almost exclusively found indoors or in dog kennels.
Unlike other ticks, they’re able to complete their entire life cycle indoors so these ticks can be found all throughout the year.
Notable diseases they carry include Rocky Mountain fever, canine ehrlichiosis, and canine babesiosis.
Size: 1/12″ – 1/8″ long (2 – 3 mm); about the length of a sesame seed; expands up to 1/2″ long (13 mm) after feeding
Color: Yellowish-to-reddish brown
Shape: Flat, elongated, oval-shaped body with a small head, large abdomen, and 8 legs; no antennae or wings
Identifying Features
Legs: Adults and nymphs have 8 legs, while larvae have 6 legs; each leg has 7 segments and a tiny claw at the tip
Head: Short, hexagonal-shaped head with triangular mouthparts
Body: Flat, oval-shaped body and large abdomen with pie crust-shaped grooves (festoons) on the rear edges; females become large and bloated after a blood meal
Scutum: Look for a reddish-to-medium brown scutum without any obvious markings; females have a short scutum (about 1/2 the length of the abdomen), while males have a large scutum with pale streaks that covers its entire back
Deer Tick / Eastern Black-Legged Tick
Ixodes scapularis
Deer ticks, or eastern black-legged ticks, are the main vector of Lyme disease.
They’re found across the eastern United States and the Great Lakes region, and their primary host is the white-tailed deer.
Adult ticks are active from late fall to spring (between October and May), while nymphs are active from spring to summer (between April and August).
Other notable diseases they carry include anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus disease.
Size: 1/16″ – 1/8″ long (1 – 3 mm); about the length of a poppy seed; expands up to 1/2″ long (13 mm) after feeding
Color: Females are reddish-orange with a dark brown scutum; males are dark brown
Shape: Small, flat, oval-shaped body with a small head, large abdomen, and 8 legs; no antennae or wings
Identifying Features
Legs: Adults and nymphs have 8 legs, while larvae have 6 legs; each leg has 7 segments and a tiny claw at the tip
Head: Small, rectangular head with straight mouthparts that are long and narrow
Body: Flat, oval-shaped body and large abdomen with smooth edges (no festoons); females have have a bright orange-red abdomen that becomes bloated and reddish-brown after a blood meal
Scutum: Look for a solid, dark brown-to-black scutum; females have a short scutum (about 1/2 the length of the abdomen), while males have a large scutum with pale streaks that covers its entire back
Lone Star Tick
Amblyomma americanum
Lone star ticks are found in woodlands in the eastern and southern United States. They are aggressive biters that feed on dogs, coyotes, deer, cattle, and humans.
These ticks are typically active in the spring and summer (between April and August).
Their bites may transmit southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), which is sometimes mistaken for Lyme disease due to the similar-looking circular rash.
Other notable diseases they carry include ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland Virus disease, Bourbon virus diseases, and alpha-gal syndrome.
Size: 1/8″ – 1/6″ long (3 – 4 mm); about the length of a lentil seed; expands up to 1/2″ long (13 mm) after feeding
Color: Reddish-brown with white markings
Shape: Flat, oval-shaped body with a small head, large abdomen, and 8 legs; no antennae or wings
Identifying Features
Legs: Adults and nymphs have 8 legs, while larvae have 6 legs; each leg has 7 segments and a tiny claw at the tip
Head: Small, rectangular head with straight mouthparts that are long and narrow
Body: Flat, oval-shaped body and large abdomen that’s more circular than other tick species, with pie crust-shaped grooves (festoons) on the rear edges; on males, the festoons may have small, white or cream-colored ornations; females become large and bloated after a blood meal
Scutum: On females, look for the characteristic silvery-white spot on the rear portion of the scutum (right in the center of its back); males have less obvious dark markings in the center of the scutum with occasional white streaks around the edges
