Brown Dog Tick
Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Latrielle
The normal host of the brown dog tick is almost always a dog, but there are reports of the ticks getting on people who are in close contact with their pets. Brown dog tick females typically lay their eggs in protected areas behind baseboards, around window and door moldings or in furniture. Levels of infestation can become very high inside homes and other buildings.
RISK LEVEL:
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
Risk is defined as how much damage each pest can be to you, your family, or your home
- Look for these small black insects attached to the skin.
- When feeding, these insects will be engorged.
- Their skin will turn a gray color when feeding.
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| Class: | Order: | Family: | |
| Insecta | Acari | Ixodidae | |
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| Size: | Brown dog tick adults are about 1/8 in (3 mm) long, but when engorged with blood they are up to 1/2 in (12 mm) long. |
| Color: | Reddish brown, but gray-blue or olive color when full of blood. |
| Characteristics: | Body flattened from top to bottom; male with tiny pits scattered on back; mouth visible from above. |
| Geographic Range: | Throughout the United States and the world. |
| Food: | Dog blood. |
| Biology: | The engorged female drops off the host dog, but tends to crawl upwards, depositing 1,000-3,000 tiny dark brown eggs in wall or ceiling crevices and cracks, and then she dies. Eggs hatch in 19-60 days into tiny larvae with 6 legs. These "seed ticks" crawl down the walls and attach to a dog, but can go for 8 months without food or water. After engorging 3-6 days they enlarge to 1/16 in (2 mm), becoming blue, then drop off to find a place to molt. In 1-3 weeks they become reddish-brown nymphs with 8 legs. They attach again and engorge for 4-9 days, growing to 1/8 in (3 mm) and turning dark gray. The nymphs then drop off, hide and molt into adults in 12-19 days. They seek a host dog as soon as possible, but can survive up to 18 months before attachment, after which they engorge 6-50 days and mate. They may complete this cycle in 2 months, but there are usually only 2 generations per year in the north, and 4 generations per year in the south. |
Prevention Tips For
Blood Feeders
Blood Feeders
- Keep lawn cut at a low level (below ankle)
- Keep all pets on flea/tick preventative
- Check clothing and exposed body parts for ticks after hiking or spending time in tall grass.
- Reduce clutter in yard to prevent mice
- Reduce areas favorable to deer
It only takes a few minutes to start protecting your home today.
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