Ticks

Order Ixodida

The Ticks (Order Ixodida) includes 24 species across 2 families and 9 genera in our directory.

About Ticks

Ixodida (ticks) includes ~900 described species in two major families: hard ticks (Ixodidae, ~700 species) and soft ticks (Argasidae, ~200 species). Ticks can increase their body weight by 200-600× when engorged with blood.

Economic Impact

Tick-borne diseases are the most common vector-borne illnesses in the U.S. - Lyme disease alone accounts for 82% of all tickborne disease reports (CDC). Annual cases more than doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 between 2004-2016. Tick-related economic losses in U.S. cattle alone exceed $3 billion annually.

Ecological Role

Ticks are obligate blood-feeding parasites at all life stages after hatching. A single female can lay 3,000-8,000 eggs. Ticks can transmit more different pathogens than any other arthropod group - including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa simultaneously.

Families in Ixodida (2)

Species in Ixodida (24)

Amblyomma rotundatum

Ixodidae

Was likely brought in by accident in the 1930s when the giant or marine toad was introduced to help control beetle pests in sugar cane fields. If not then, then it was between 1955-1964 when the toads were introduced in the Miami area

Carios kelleyi

Argasidae

"These ticks are usually noticed several months after house owners have successfully excluded bats from a roosting space. The ticks emerge from the former roosting space searching for food." … Jon Oliver

Cayenne Tick

Amblyomma cajennense

Ixodidae

Note: its presence in other parts of North America probably represent introductions that may not be established. Part of a difficult species complex, this species may be A. mixtum based on range. Will revisit after checking more resources. TJH

Gulf Coast Tick

Amblyomma maculatum

Ixodidae

Identification: |----------Male---------|--------Female--------| photo , photo - www.insectimages.org It has spurs on the second, third and fourth pairs of legs and more diffuse pale markings on the female than does the lone star tick.

Haemaphysalis leporispalustris

Ixodidae

Transmits Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis . Heavy infestations of this tick can weaken and sometimes kill their hosts, or at least predispose them to other pathogens. This tick is an important reservoir and vector of Rocky Mountain spotted

Ixodes affinis

Ixodidae

Identification: Males: hypostome with large lateral teeth, small mesal teeth; central portion of scutum with deep punctures Females: trochanters without spurs; basis capituli without rounded process on either projecting anteriorly on each side of hyp

Pacific Coast Tick

Dermacentor occidentalis

Ixodidae

Identification: Jon Oliver provided the following characters that can be used to distinguish D. occidentalis from D. variabilis : - Basis capitulum longer than wide - cornua as long as or longer than wide - sizes of scutal punctations not greatly dis

Rocky Mountain Wood Tick

Dermacentor andersoni

Ixodidae

This species is very similar in appearance to Dermacentor variabilis . This range map shows their separate ranges, which may be used to identify them. Identification to the species level is best achieved by comparing morphologic features of the spir

Squirrel Tick

Ixodes marxi

Ixodidae

This is one of the species of ticks that has been known to carry Powassan virus, an occasional cause of viral encephalitis in humans (see Internet References).

Western Black-legged Tick

Ixodes pacificus

Ixodidae

Identification: Adult and Nymph: legs, head, and thoracic plate black; female abdomen dark reddish; male abdomen blackish; 8 legs; nymph about half as large as adult Larva: 6 legs, lighter color, and about one-quarter as large as adult The Western Bl

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