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Eastern black-legged tick

Eastern black-legged tick

Ixodes scapularis

A species of Ixodes, Also known as Deer tick, Northern deer tick

The eastern black-legged tick got its common name from its tendency to attach itself as a parasite to white-tailed deer. It is a vector for several animal and human diseases, including Lyme disease and Powassan virus. Humans are most likely to get bitten by ticks in the nymph stage, when they are smaller and hard to see. Humans also get bitten most often during the summer.

Is the Eastern black-legged tick Deadly?
Deadly
Bite Humans
Bite Humans
Bite Animals
Bite Animals
Cause Disease in Humans
Pathogenic
General Info About Eastern black-legged tick
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Attributes of Eastern black-legged tick
Colors
Brown
Black
Red
Habitat
forest; grassland
Adult Food Sources
Blood from larger mammals such as deer, dogs, and humans
Larva Food Source
Blood from mammals like rodents, birds
Non-poisonous
Not reported
Borer
Not reported
Pollinator
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
Not reported
Predatory
The Eastern black-legged tick typically preys on other arthropods and does not directly affect plants.
Biting animal or pet
Yes
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Species Status of Eastern black-legged tick
It can be quite numerous and seemingly gregarious in areas where they are found. It is a hard-bodied tick (family Ixodidae) of the eastern and northern Midwestern United States and southeastern Canada.
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Distribution Area of Eastern black-legged tick
Eastern and northern Midwest of the United States, southeastern Canada
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Predators of Eastern black-legged tick Larvae
Ants, spiders, birds, small mammals
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Predators of Adult Eastern black-legged tick
Birds, opossums, rodents, insects like ants
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Interesting Facts About Eastern black-legged tick
Eastern black-legged tick can remain attached to its host for several days to weeks, depending on its lifecycle stage and species.
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Scientific Classification of Eastern black-legged tick
Order
Ticks
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Genus
Ixodes
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Tips for Finding Eastern black-legged tick
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Youth Habitat of Eastern black-legged tick
Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas
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Adult Habitat of Eastern black-legged tick
Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas
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How Can You Attract Eastern black-legged tick
For adult stages, carbon dioxide traps, or acaricide treatments on carrier animals can be effective. For larvae and nymphs, leaf litter and small mammal hosts are natural baits.
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How and Where Can You Find Eastern black-legged tick at Different Life Stages
Juvenile Eastern black-legged tick larvae are minuscule and often cluster near the ground. They can be found by examining small mammals or birds they commonly parasitize, as well as inspecting leaf litter and low vegetation.
Eastern black-legged tick nymphs are slightly larger than larvae but still small. They are typically found in areas with dense understory vegetation. Sweep netting through vegetation or checking small hosts they feed on is a good method to locate them.
Adult Eastern black-legged tick adults can be spotted on the tips of grass blades or vegetation waiting to attach to passing hosts. Draping a white cloth over vegetation and walking through infested areas, a technique known as 'flagging,' is useful for collecting adults.
Are Eastern black-legged tick harmful?
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The eastern black-legged tick carries pathogens that can infect other creatures and could potentially lead to disease. It is dangerous to humans, pets, or plants.

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Are Eastern black-legged tick harmful to humans?

The eastern black-legged tick is a common transmitter of many dangerous diseases including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi disease, Powassan virus disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It easily transmits these diseases to many hosts through biting and feeding on the hosts’ blood. While the tick's bite itself is not very problematic to humans, these diseases can have serious consequences. Lyme disease, the disease most commonly transmitted by eastern black-legged ticks, has symptoms that include a rash near the bite, flu-like symptoms, arthritic conditions, and neurological problems.
Eastern black-legged ticks thrive in wooded and brushy habitats. There are many ways to prevent bites, including avoiding travel in these habitats, using insect repellants, wearing protective clothing, and checking your body frequently for ticks.
Harmful Effects of Eastern black-legged tick
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Is the Eastern black-legged tick Deadly?

Eastern black-legged tick, through its bite, can transmit pathogens causing fatal conditions like Lyme disease, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus disease. Disease risk escalates with feeding nymphs and adults. Children, elders, and untreated allergic reactions heighten fatality prospects. Preventive measures and prompt treatments are crucial to mitigate these risks and prevent loss of life.

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Bite Humans

Eastern black-legged tick bites humans in all developmental stages while feeding, primarily as hungry nymphs and adults. These bites, which facilitate blood meals essential for growth and reproduction, can transmit pathogens, leading to diseases like Lyme fever in humans, making them a notable health concern.

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Bite Animals

Eastern black-legged tick relies on blood meals for nutrition, especially during developmental stages. This creature intricately attaches to a host's skin, using specialized mouthparts to painlessly pierce and draw blood, often unnoticed by the host.

More Effects of Eastern black-legged tick

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