#ixodida

An American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) waits for a host to attach itself to in Brooklyn, New York, USA

American dog tick bites can cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) is known for the white spot on the back of the female? These ticks are found in much of the eastern US and much of Mexico in wooded areas. They looooove to hitch a ride (and meals) on deer, especially white tailed deer. Each stage of life of the lone star tick feeds on a different host.

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Check out this Black-Legged Tick that hitched a ride into my house then fell on my computer! This colorful species of order ixodida was not able to get off of her back so I took the chance to get some footage and a picture. She was removed and returned outdoors when I was done. Though ticks do not seem beneficial, they are still part of the ecosystem. Leaving no trace means avoiding causing harm/an impact to anything encountered on a trail/outdoors, so I did not kill or injure her.

This is also the first photograph I have ever taken of a species from order ixodida! It was a goal of mine to get a few pictures this year of orders I have not yet gotten pictures of. This is hopefully the first of many.

I also caught this Mourning Dove in our neighbors tree! I got too close and they flew away, I'm better at photographing arthropods at the moment (working on my bird ID and picture taking skills).

paralysis tick (ixodes holocyclus) sticker made for a local queer art market! a very self indulgent design, but it was my best selling item, which made me so happy!

no dogs were bitten by ticks in the taking of this photo (detail shot + behind the scenes pic under the cut)