Page 84 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 84
r Tick
(Ixodes scapularis)
Description Distribution and Habitat
Female Deer Ticks are The Deer Tick prefers to live in
approximately 3.5 millimeters grassy areas, open fields and
in length, much longer than the areas where fields and woodlands
males which range from 2 to meet. They are found in all five
2.7 millimeters. Adult females physiographic provinces.
are reddish brown in color and
have a black shield near the Role in Food Web
head and black legs. The adult
males are black. The nymphs The larvae feed on the blood of
are approximately 1 millimeter birds and mammals, including
in length. The Deer Tick is also humans. The adults prefer to
known as the Black-legged Tick. feed on White-tailed Deer but
will also feed on other mammals
The Deer Tick bite may transmit and birds. Predators include Wild
bacteria or parasites which cause Turkeys, salamanders, toads, skinks,
illnesses such as Lyme disease, centipedes and harvestmen.
anaplasmosis and babesiosis.
The nymphal stage appears to be
responsible for most Lyme disease
cases. Male ticks may attach to a
host but feed very little (if at all) and
therefore do not transmit diseases.
r 80 r
(Ixodes scapularis)
Description Distribution and Habitat
Female Deer Ticks are The Deer Tick prefers to live in
approximately 3.5 millimeters grassy areas, open fields and
in length, much longer than the areas where fields and woodlands
males which range from 2 to meet. They are found in all five
2.7 millimeters. Adult females physiographic provinces.
are reddish brown in color and
have a black shield near the Role in Food Web
head and black legs. The adult
males are black. The nymphs The larvae feed on the blood of
are approximately 1 millimeter birds and mammals, including
in length. The Deer Tick is also humans. The adults prefer to
known as the Black-legged Tick. feed on White-tailed Deer but
will also feed on other mammals
The Deer Tick bite may transmit and birds. Predators include Wild
bacteria or parasites which cause Turkeys, salamanders, toads, skinks,
illnesses such as Lyme disease, centipedes and harvestmen.
anaplasmosis and babesiosis.
The nymphal stage appears to be
responsible for most Lyme disease
cases. Male ticks may attach to a
host but feed very little (if at all) and
therefore do not transmit diseases.
r 80 r
