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- American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis) The American dog tick have a dark brown body. Females have an off-white shield, while adult males look more mottled.
- Blacklegged “Deer” Tick (Ixodes scapularis) This tick is most easily identified by its reddish-orange body, black shield and dark black legs. Pathogens: The deer tick is known to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi (the agent of Lyme disease), Borrelia mayonii (which causes a Lyme-like illness), Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia hermsii (that both cause relapsing fever Borreliosis), Ehrlichia muris (ehrlichiosis), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis), Babesia microti (babesiosis), multiple species of Rickettsia, deer tick virus, and Powassan virus.
- Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) The brown dog tick is a reddish brown with a narrow shape in comparison to other ticks. Pathogens: All life stages of this tick can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsia), Q Fever, and other rickettsioses to humans.
- Groundhog Tick (Ixodes cookei) The groundhog tick, also known as woodchuck tick, has a light brown or blond color. Pathogens: The groundhog tick is the primary vector for Powassan virus disease.
- Black-legged tick or deer tick. The black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick, is mainly found in the eastern half and Midwest region of the U.S. The scientific name for this tick is Ixodes scapularis.
- Lone Star tick. The Lone Star tick is mainly found in the Southern and Eastern U.S. Its scientific name is Amblyomma americanum. The Lone Star tick can spread
- Alpha-gal syndrome and the Lone Star tick. Bites from the Lone Star tick can sometimes lead to alpha-gal syndrome, which is associated with a meat allergy.
- American dog tick. The American dog tick is mainly found east of the U.S. Rocky Mountains. The scientific name for this tick is Dermacentor variabilis. The American dog tick also is found in some areas of the Pacific Coast.
The Blacklegged “Deer” tick is a notorious biting arachnid named for its dark legs. Blacklegged ticks are sometimes called “Deer” ticks because their preferred adult host is the white-tailed deer. In the Midwest, blacklegged ticks are called the “Bear” ticks.
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May 17, 2023 · Getty Images. 1. Blacklegged tick (a.k.a. deer tick) The most feared type of tick, the blacklegged tick transmits two bacteria that cause Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi and B. mayonii, as...
- Overview
- How to identify a deer tick
- How to identify a deer tick bite
- Which diseases do they carry?
- How to avoid deer ticks
- Treatments for a deer tick bite
- When to see a doctor
- Summary
Deer ticks, or blacklegged ticks, are blood-sucking insects that are about the size of a sesame seed and have eight black legs. They prefer to feed on larger animals, such as deer, but they will also bite humans.
Deer ticks can spread the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, though they may also carry other bacteria. They are small and can be difficult to spot, as they tend to favor hidden areas of the body, such as the armpit or groin.
To prevent serious complications from the bite of a deer tick, it is essential to identify and remove the insect as soon as possible.
In this article, learn more about how to identify and remove deer ticks.
Deer ticks, scientifically known as Ixodes scapularis, exist primarily in the eastern and north-central parts of the United States.
A similar species called the western blacklegged tick, or Ixodes pacificus, exists mainly in the western parts of the U.S.
Learn more about types of ticks here.
Blacklegged ticks are only about the size of a sesame seed. Immature ticks, or nymphs, can also bite. These are only about the size of a poppy seed.
Both adults and nymphs have eight long, black legs that extend from a round, bulb shaped abdomen.
Males are darker and generally have a uniform brown color, with a whitish strip around the outside of the abdomen. Females have a two-tone, lighter brown torso. A female’s torso may also become more rust colored after ingesting blood.
Deer ticks excrete a form of anesthetic onto their host through their saliva. This allows them to attach to the host and feed without the host feeling pain from the bite. That said, some people may experience irritation at the site of the bite.
Since ticks attach to the host, they may remain on the site of a bite for some time. Regularly checking the body for ticks is the easiest way to identify a tick bite.
Ticks prefer to feed from places where the host will not notice their presence. For example, they may opt to feed in hidden areas near the groin, underarms, or other skin folds.
The bite itself may appear red on light skin or purple or brown on dark skin. If the tick is carrying Lyme disease, the site of the bite may also have a distinctive bull’s-eye appearance.
Lyme disease
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the U.S.” The disease spreads predominantly through deer tick bites. Infected deer ticks can pass on the bacteria that cause it, such as Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii. Some symptoms of Lyme disease include headaches, fever, and general fatigue. Lyme disease also causes a distinct rash called erythema migrans in about 70–80% of cases. The rash is circular, expanding at the site of the bite around 3–30 days afterward. The rash may have a bull’s-eye or target-like appearance — that is, it may have a red, brown, or purple center with a ring around it. Learn how to identify a Lyme disease rash here. Most cases of Lyme disease are treatable with a few weeks of antibiotics. Without treatment, the disease may spread to the person’s joints, heart, and nervous system. Lyme disease is not contagious, however.
Other infectious germs
Deer ticks may also spread other harmful germs, including: •anaplasmosis •human babesiosis •Powassan virus •human granulocytic ehrlichiosis
Deer ticks are more active in the warmer months, from April to September. However, a person can sustain a bite at any time.
If possible, avoid areas in which deer ticks live, including:
•forest regions
•thick, tall grasses
•areas known to have mammal wildlife
•brush and overgrown areas with high humidity and moisture
Anyone who notices a tick bite should take immediate measures to remove it.
To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers. Placing the tweezers as close to the skin as possible, grip the tick without squishing it. Pull up steadily, applying even pressure, until the tick is out.
If the person pulls up too fast, the head or feeding tube may remain in the skin. If this occurs, use clean tweezers to remove the parts of the tick that are still in the skin.
People should ignore any remaining parts that they cannot remove without causing further damage to the skin.
Clean the skin thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or soap and warm water. Dispose of the tick by placing it in a sealed bag, wrapping it tightly in tape, or drowning it in alcohol. Do not crush the tick with the fingers, as this may release blood and bacteria onto the person’s skin.
Learn more about how to remove a tick safely here.
Anyone who develops a rash or fever in the weeks following a tick bite should contact their doctor.
It can help to make notes about the bite, such as when it occurred and any symptoms that appeared after the bite. Taking pictures of the bite or the tick itself may also assist a doctor with diagnosis.
Deer tick bites may spread the bacteria that cause Lyme disease and other infectious diseases.
Taking preventive measures may help prevent bites. For example, after being in areas known to have ticks, performing regular body checks may help a person identify and remove any ticks before they attach to the skin.
Sep 2, 2020 · Black-legged tick. The black-legged tick lives all over the U.S. While these ticks might bite people at any time when the temperatures are above freezing, this is most likely to happen...
People also ask
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Jun 11, 2021 · Blacklegged Tick. Female. Male. Nymph. Larva. Range: Widely spread across the eastern half of the United States. The eastern parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas make up...
