Blacklegged tick, Deer tick
Ixodes scapularis (Note: This is an arachnid, specifically a tick, not a spider)
Ixodidae (Hard Ticks), Order Ixodida
Physical Description
Oval, flattened body with no distinct waist, glossy dark brown to black coloration, engorged due to feeding, lacking wings and antennae like all arachnids.
Size Estimate
Approximately 3 to 5 millimeters long unengorged, but can expand significantly up to 10 millimeters when fully engorged with blood.
Coloration & Markings
Uniformly dark reddish-brown to black dorsal shield (scutum) and abdomen, highly glossy appearance due to recent blood meal.
Web Type
Does not build a web. This is an ectoparasitic arachnid that climbs vegetation to wait for passing hosts.
Eye Arrangement
Simple eyes (ocelli) are located laterally on the sides of the scutum, highly reduced compared to true spiders.
Leg Characteristics
Four pairs of short, slender legs radiating from the forward portion of the body, typical of arachnids at the adult stage, equipped with hook-like claws for gripping skin and hair.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Does not inject venom. Instead, it secretes a cement-like substance and saliva containing anticoagulants and anesthetics while feeding.
Medical Significance
Medically significant vector capable of transmitting pathogens causing Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus.
Safety Recommendations
Remove promptly using fine-tipped tweezers by pulling straight up with steady pressure. Wash the bite area with soap and water, apply antiseptic, and monitor for rashes or flu-like symptoms for 30 days.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Widely distributed in wooded, brushy, and grassy areas across eastern and upper Midwestern North America, preferring humid microclimates.
Behavior & Temperament
Passive ambush predator (host-seeker) that climbs blades of grass or leaf litter (questing) and waits for a host to brush past.
Diet & Prey
Strictly hematophagous (feeds on blood) from vertebrate hosts including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Seasonal Activity
Active throughout the spring, summer, and fall, with adults particularly active during cooler autumn and spring days when temperatures are above freezing.
Description
This organism is a hard-bodied tick, not a spider, though both belong to the class Arachnida. The specimen shown is darkly colored and visibly engorged, having fed on a host. Ticks are specialized external parasites known primarily for their potential to transmit vector-borne diseases to humans and animals.
Key Features
Single fused body section without a distinct waist, leathery exoskeleton, mouthparts visible from above, and dark coloration indicating recent engorgement.
Similar Species
Dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) and Lone Star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), which have distinct markings or shield shapes.
Life Cycle
Four-stage life cycle: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult. Requires a blood meal at each active stage to progress, taking up to two years to complete.
Ecological Importance
Serves as a food source for birds, small mammals, and amphibians, while acting as a vector that regulates host population densities.
Conservation Status
Not threatened or endangered; populations are stable and expanding in many regions.
Interesting Facts
Ticks can detect carbon dioxide, body heat, and vibrations from potential hosts passing by from several feet away.
Photography Tips
Use macro settings with bright, even lighting to capture details of the mouthparts and dorsal shield for accurate species identification.
User Notes
Found on my skin
Identified: 2026-08-29T20:03:08.498414