Blacklegged Tick Ixodes scapularis

Identification
This tick has dark brown body with black shield and long mouthparts.

Location
Common and increasing

Size
One eighth inch

Diet
It feeds on blood from mammals and birds.

Habitat
It occurs in forests and brushy habitats.

Activity Period
March to December

Behavior
It seeks hosts by climbing vegetation and waiting for contact. It is most active in warm months.

Lifecycle
Breeding occurs in autumn with larvae emerging in summer.

Population
The population is increasing statewide.

History
It expanded in Ohio during recent decades.

Human Interactions
It may bite humans and pets.

Facts
It is the primary vector of Lyme disease.

Sources
ODNR academic sources

Blood from mammals birds reptiles | Forests brushy areas tall grass | Statewide