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Ticks
Latin Name: Dermacentor variabilis
Common Name: American Dog Tick
Other Names: Wood tick
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native tick in North America. It is most abundant in the eastern half of the country but also found in the Pacific Northwest, south into California, and in eastern Canada.
Biology:
This species is primarily a parasite of dogs, but will also readily feed on cattle, horses, humans, and other animals. It is a 3-host tick, with the larva and nymph stages prone to feed on small animals and the adults on larger animals. It is a known vector of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, and a form of Ehrlichiosis. It also may cause tick paralysis due to a venom in its saliva. The life cycle can be completed from egg to adult in about 2 months if suitable blood hosts are available, but may extend over 2 years if necessary. Each stage – 6 legged larva, 8 legged nymph, and 8 legged adult – require a blood
Latin Name: Ixodes scapularis
Common Name: Blacklegged Tick
Latin Family Name: Ixodidae
Other Names: Deer tick
Pest Details
Origin:
There are two major species of Ixodes ticks in the United States, I. pacificus in the western U.S. and I. scapularis in the eastern U.S. These ticks are native to North America.
Biology:
Hard ticks in general have a two year life cycle, with eggs hatching to the 6-legged larva in the spring, these progressing to the second instar nymph stage which overwinters, and these progressing the following year to the adult tick. There is usually a single blood meal at each stage, with the tick remaining attached for several days to over a week. After fertilization by the male, and a blood meal, the female hard tick produces a single batch of up to several thousand eggs, and then she dies. These eggs are usually placed into a secluded crevice of some sort, and this may be within a structure.
Latin Name: Rhipicephalus sanquineus
Common Name: Brown Dog Tick
Latin Family Name: Ixodidae
Other Names: Kennel tick
Pest Details
Origin:
Apparently this tick is native to North America, and it occurs most often in states with warm climates. It also occurs into Latin America in the tropical and subtropical areas.
Biology:
The brown dog tick is a common pest of dogs, but possibly does not attack humans at all. However, it can be a serious nuisance in the home when pets are infested. It is potentially a vector of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Hard ticks in general have a two year life cycle, with eggs hatching to the 6-legged larva in the spring, these progressing to the second instar nymph stage which overwinters, and these progressing the following year to the adult tick. There is usually a single blood meal at each stage, with the tick remaining attached for several days to over a week. After fertilization by
Latin Name: Amblyomma americanum
Common Name: Lone Star Tick
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This tick is a native in eastern North America and is found from Texas north to Iowa and east along the Atlantic coast as far north as Maine.
Biology:
This tick is a potential vector of Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia. It seems to be found most often in dense forest areas where thick underbrush is present. The bite of the tick often causes a large circular rash similar to that of Lyme Disease, but the Lone Star Tick to date has not been shown to be a vector of Lyme. It feeds readily upon many animals, including household pets and humans, and it can be a relentless tick when searching for a blood host. The preferred host appears to be livestock such as cattle. It is a 3-host tick, with the larva and nymph stages dropping off the host animal once engorged and seeking a secluded place to digest the meal and molt to the next stage. Development
Latin Name: Ixodes pacificus
Common Name: Western Blacklegged Tick
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This tick is a native species in western North America.
Biology:
This species replaces the Deer Tick (I. scapularis) in the western U.S. and western Canada. It is the principal vector of Lyme Disease in the west and may be found in most habitats, including forested areas where it often will be on moss-covered trunks of trees, in scrub areas, grasslands, and high brush. It is active throughout the year where the temperatures are mild and may spread Lyme Disease in the winter as well as the summer. Early stages feed on smaller vertebrates that are close to the ground, such as lizards and small rodents, while adults feed on larger animals such as deer, coyotes, livestock, and humans. The much lower incidence of Lyme Disease in the west is thought to be tied to the feeding on fence lizards, which may have an ability