Deer Tick Size report
The deer tick, its scientific name is Ixodes scapularis, also known as the bear tick in parts of the United States. The deer tick gets its name because it is accustomed to parasitizing white-tailed deer. It has a hard shell and is distributed in the Northeast-Midwest of the United States. Deer ticks are carriers of many pathogenic bacteria of animal diseases, which can infect humans, such as Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, etc.
Deer ticks can be found everywhere in Massachusetts, especially in coastal areas, islands, and the Connecticut River Valley. In the Boston area, ticks inhabit grass, shrubs, or wooded areas. The peak period for Lyme disease caused by deer ticks is between spring and early fall when ticks are most active.
The eastern United States is a high-incidence area of Lyme disease. The harm of Lyme disease makes many people afraid of the deer tick, so elementary school students in the United States will learn common sense about preventing deer tick and Lyme disease in school. It is a great time to learn more about the deer tick in the following post.
Deer Tick Basics
One of the best ways to prevent tick bites is to identify different species based on their appearance. Different ticks have different harm to human health. There are more details about deer ticks.
| Scientific name | Ixodes scapularis |
| Color | Orange-brown with dark legs |
| Shape | Flat; broad oval |
| Leg | 8 |
| Region | The northeastern, mid-Atlantic, southeastern and north central regions of the U.S. |
| Antennae | No |
Physical Characteristics
The deer tick is also known as the black-legged tick. Deer ticks have eight dark legs, a dark head, and a dark spot behind their head. And a deer tick’s abdomen will look different depending on its age, sex, and whether it has recently eaten. When Ixodes scapularis fill with blood, their abdomens become so large that they look different from other ticks.
- Larval ticks are three-legged and have translucent abdomens.
- Nymphs are slightly larger, about the size of a poppy seed, and have dark brown bodies.
- Adult females have reddish-brown abdomens, while males have brownish-black abdomens.
- At all these life stages, feeding will change the color and size of the deer ticks, and their abdomens can become shades of yellow to dark bluish-grey.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The life cycle of Ixodes scapularis is two years, during which it goes through three stages: larvae, nymphs, and adults. The worm must draw blood before entering the next stage of its life cycle. When the female Ixodes scapularis sucks blood, it sticks tightly to the host for 4-5 days. After sucking enough blood to swell itself, they leave the host and overwinter in the litter in the forest soil. The following spring, the female Ixodes scapularis lays hundreds of thousands of eggs, usually clumps.
Habitat
Deer ticks are more commonly found in wooded and forested areas containing leaf litter that provides a moist habitat and animals to feed on.
Average Size Of Deer Tick
Because of their small size, deer ticks are rarely found or eaten by potential predators such as birds. Newly hatched unengorged larvae are about 1/32” long and have 6 legs. Unengorged nymphs (baby ticks) are about 1/16” long and have 8 legs.
| Deer Tick Size | Life Stage |
|---|---|
| <1mm | Larva |
| 1-2mm | Nymph |
| 2-3mm | Adult Male |
| 3-4mm | Adult Female |
How to Treat Deer Tick Bites
Ixodes scapularis is the primary carrier of Lyme disease in North America. Typically, ticks must contact humans for 36-48 hours or more to transmit disease, so timely removal of ticks will significantly reduce the chance of infection. Unfortunately, many people are unsure how long a tick has been biting. If you found trick bites on the body, any tick should be removed immediately with fine-tipped tweezers as the following steps:
- Instead of squeezing or twisting the tick, hold it close to the skin and pull it straight out by pulling up evenly.
- Clean the skin around the bite with soap and water or a disinfectant.
- If the tick's mouth is broken into the skin during removal, leave it alone as it tends to fall off on its own.
- Write down the date and location of the bite, and it is recommended to observe it for 30 days to see if a rash appears.
The most common sign of a deer tick problem is spotting one in your yard, on your body, or on our pet. People in tick-endemic areas must not be careless, take preventive measures, and consult a family doctor in time for any symptoms of infection.
