Winter Tick Dermacentor albipictus

Identification
This tick has brown body and pale legs.

Location
Uncommon in Ohio

Size
One quarter inch

Diet
It feeds mainly on deer and moose.

Habitat
It occurs in northern forests.

Activity Period
September to April

Behavior
It spends entire life cycle on a single host. It is active in cool months.

Lifecycle
Breeding occurs in autumn.

Population
The population is limited.

History
It has long been present in small numbers.

Human Interactions
It rarely bites humans.

Facts
It can cause heavy infestations on moose in northern regions.

Sources
ODNR NatureServe

Blood from large mammals | Forests brushlands | Northern Ohio