PHOTO: DEER TICK PHOTO: ENGORGED DEER TICK Ī common misconception is that ticks FLY or jump out of trees to land on their unsuspecting victim. When engorged the female can appear grey in color. Male Deer Tick measure about 1/16 inch and females around 3/32 inch. Adult Deer Ticks are a chocolate brown and is smaller in size than American Dog Tick. Young ticks can be the size of a poppyseed and may go unnoticed. Larval and nymphal Deer Ticks are often translucent to clear grayish-brown until they feed and grow.

Any stage can feed on humans, which is challenging when self-inspecting for tick attachment. As adults, they tend to feed on larger mammals including deer. As an immature tick or nymph, deer ticks may feed on a variety of forest-dwelling animals such as mice. But Lyme is not the only disease it may carry or transmit! Any tick could carry several different disease organisms at once and can transmit multiple disease organisms while feeding.ĭeer tick favors forested habitats. The Deer Tick or Black-Legged Tick is the most notorious of ticks as it is known to vector Lyme Disease. Several have been pulled off fellow Extension Educator Christine and her family these past weeks so it was time to put out the alert! On the other hand, Deer Ticks are active 12 months out of the year and can be found even during winter when temperatures allow. American Dog Tick populations peak April through mid-July so start tick checking! These areas along park paths where tall grass or brush is present are prime locations to pick up ticks, especially American dog tick, so take care to check yourself and pets upon returning from outdoor activity and use appropriate tick-prevention on your pets. During this time of social distancing, many people are escaping to parks to exercise and walk their pets. The transition zone between forest/shrub habitat and grassy habitat is a prime location to find American Dog Tick. This species has a distinct mottled scutum, or back plate, that makes identification a little easier.Īmerican Dog Tick is most likely to be found in grassy, pasture, or meadow-type habitats, often along the edges of paths and roads. The American Dog Tick, ( Dermacentor variabilis) is the most common and largest tick in Ohio. Here in Medina, people often bring the American Dog Tick to the Extension Office for identification. Most other species are not pests of humans, are less common, and are not considered significant vectors of disease in Ohio at present. There are other species of tick in Ohio too, notably the brown dog tick, a relatively uncommon tick that has the ability to complete its entire lifecycle indoors where dogs are present. In Ohio there are 3 species of medical-importance known to vector diseases to humans: the American Dog Tick ( Dermacentor variabilis), the Deer Tick, A.K.A Blacklegged Tick ( Ixodes scapularis), and the Lone Star Tick ( Amblyomma americanum). Ticks are pests of significance that can impact the health and well-being of people, their pets and livestock. These little devils are found in a variety of wooded to grassy environments and feed off the blood of reptiles, birds, and mammals including humans. Ticks and mites have only two body segments (cephalothorax and abdomen) that appear as one round body and 8 legs. Now that temperatures are picking up and we are getting out where we can, tick reports have been coming in.Īs anyone who has had the misfortune of finding a tick embedded knows, ticks are blood-feeding parasitic arthropods. While spring is a peak time for tick reports, many ticks are active year-round when temperatures allow. Ticks are on the move! Be sure to check yourself and your pets as tick reports ramps up! Article by: Ashley Kulhanek and Christine Gelley

Engorged tick