American Dog Tick

This tick's common name comes from the fact that it is only found in North America and that domestic dogs are the favorite host of the adults. Although not a structural pest it is commonly found on dogs and readily attacks humans. It is of medical importance because it vectors the causal organisms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, and also causes tick paralysis. If is found throughout the United States except for the areas of the Rocky Mountains, and Canada and Mexico.

Recognition

Color brown with whitish to grayish markings often with silvery hue on scutum. Scutum completely covers dorsum in male except of festoons eyes on margin of scutum. Capitulum visible from above; basis capituli rectangular with sides not laterally produced, about as long as mouthparts; 2nd segment of palpi about as long as wide, not laterally produced. Abdominal festoon broad, 11 in number; anal grove present, posterior to anus. Spiracular plate broad, usually with blunt process reaching dorsum goblets very small and numerous.

Habits

The American dog tick does not survive well indoors. If found indoors, it was probably carried in on a dog and dropped off when fully engorged to seek a suitable place for egg laying.

This is a 3-host tic, with each stage requiring a different host. Both larvae and nymphs actively crawl about seeking a small mammalian host. Primarily rodent; Hosts include the white-footed mouse, meadow mouse, cotton rat, cottontail and swamp rabbits, muskrat, Norway rat, squirrel, and cat. Larvae alone are known from house mouse, jackrabbit, and mole. Nymphs alone are known from wood rat, sheep, cattle, and dog. Because of this kind of host seeking activity, neither larvae nor nymphs are picked up on tick drags.

Adults crawl up grass or other low vegetation, cling to it with their 3 pair of legs, and wave their other legs around ready to grasp onto any passing host; this is called their "waiting position." They prefer larger mammals as hosts and these include the preferred dog and others such as man, cattle, opossum, coyote, hog, horse, raccoon, wild cat, squirrel, sheep. Skunk deer, fox, domestic cat, mule, rabbit, Norway rat, ground squirrel, donkey/burro, weasel, and woodchuck.

American dog ticks are attracted by the scent of animals and are therefore most numerous along roads, paths, and trails. The concentration is further increased along such travel routs by the dropping of engorged ticks from their host animal.