Rocky Mountain Wood Tick
Dermacentor andersoni
This record describes Dermacentor andersoni (species). Recorded family: Ixodidae. Recorded order: Ixodida.
Identification and Appearance
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 spiracular plates (see CDC Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria link below).
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Rocky Mountains of US and Canada, Tick range maps , CDC
About Ticks: the wider group
Order-level background for Ixodida, the group containing Dermacentor andersoni. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
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.
Ecological role of the group
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.
Economic and practical significance of the group
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.
Recorded sources for this group: CDC tick surveillance data, USDA veterinary entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by pfeiffer , KenW