Dog Tick
Dermacentor variabilis · Arachnid, Invertebrate, Cold-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Family Ixodidae, order Ixodida, class Arachnida
Animal Category
Insect/Arthropod
Breed / Variety
American Dog Tick
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, abundant and widespread population trend.
About This Creature
Small, oval-shaped arachnid with a flat body that expands significantly when engorged with blood, typically brown with mottled white or grey markings.
Physical Characteristics
Four pairs of legs, no wings or antennae, tough exoskeleton, specialized mouthparts for piercing skin and drawing blood.
Behavior & Temperament
Passive ambush predator waiting on vegetation to latch onto passing hosts, non-social.
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
North America
Habitat
Grassy areas, scrub, and forest edges; Terrestrial
Diet & Nutrition
Obligate hematophage feeding exclusively on the blood of mammals.
Lifespan & Health
Lifespan ranges from several months to up to two years depending on host availability; vector for various pathogens.
Special Characteristics
Capable of surviving long periods without feeding and vectoring serious diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Ecological Information
Acts as a parasite in terrestrial food webs, serving as a food source for small predators while regulating host populations through disease transmission.
Notes
May