Deer Tick (Male) - Ixodes scapularis

This guy was so tiny that I mistook him for a beetle at first. The drop of water on his scutum and his questing front legs helped create a beetle-like appearance.

Habitat: Grass along the edge of a small pond

comments (4)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Oh wow, even after reading it it still took me a while to register the water drop. Is this a coincidence or purposeful strategy? Posted 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  It must have been coincidence because I have never seen a tick with a water drop on it before. Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    It would also be exceptionally difficult to maneuver a water drop on your back like that. My question seemed a lot more clever when I asked it. Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      Lol, so true. That didn't occur to me either. Posted 4 years ago

The Blacklegged Tick

"Ixodes scapularis" is a hard-bodied tick of the eastern and northern Midwestern United States. It is a vector for several diseases of animals, including humans and is known as the deer tick owing to its habit of parasitizing the white-tailed deer. It is also known to parasitize mice, lizards, migratory birds, etc. especially while the tick is in the larva or nymph stage.

Info 23 0

Similar species: Ticks

Species identified by Christine Young