ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Deertick

Blacklegged Tick or Deer Tick

Female black-legged ticks 
Click image to enlarge.		 The blacklegged tick, sometimes known as deer tick, is commonly known for its transmission of Lyme Disease. Another tick in Ohio, the American dog tick, has been known to transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. To remove a tick from skin, grasp them as close to the skin as possible, near the mouthparts and gently pull. Consult a doctor if you think you have been exposed to a disease.

Blacklegged Tick
Ixodes scapularis

At-a-Glance

• Size: 1/16-1/8 inches long
Description
Ticks are tiny and are usually brown or reddish brown, but some are greenish in color.

Habitat and Habits
Ticks are parasites that feed by embedding their mouthparts into the skin of their host, which may be any other larger animal.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
The female tick lays her eggs into the soil and these hatch after a few weeks. The larvae (young ticks) then wait in the leaf litter for a potential host to pass by.