What Does A Tick Look Like! Be Prepared

Varieties of ticks. How to recognize them and protect yourself from ticks?

Written by Meredith Hayes. Updated on Tick Ixodes

Tick season is coming soon, and we, people, must be especially careful about these bloodsuckers since they may be carrying dangerous diseases.

To know the “enemy” in person, check out the most common ticks’ species to be prepared in case you see any of them.

Types Of the Ticks And Their Pictures

These pests are so tiny and are similar to other bugs, that we often find it difficult to spot them on ourselves, our clothing, or especially, pets.

However, the ability to identify them or their nests is essential since certain kinds carry nasty illnesses.

We have prepared the detailed guide for you including the pictures of these parasites so that everyone could protect themselves.

  • The most harmful is the Ixodidae tick family which includes several species like Dermacentor, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, and others. The insects that belong to this family transmit infectious diseases such as encephalitis, borreliosis (also known as Lyme disease), bartonellosis, etc.
Ixodes ricinus a hard tick
en.wikipedia.org
Adult deer tick
en.wikipedia.org

The common trait of this family is the body length of 1.5 – 6 mm for males and females (non-fed). Saturated females reach 15mm after feeding.

Types Of the Ticks
The female tick of the Ixodes family (photo by Nikolai Stanilevich)

 

ticks
From left to right: male, nymph, female, and larva ticks of the Ixodes family

Dermacentor

Also, known as wood ticks, these transmit the tick-borne typhus, encephalitis, tularemia, Q fever, and the plague agents.

Males and non-fed females reach 4-5mm, fed females may reach up to 15mm.

dermacentor
activepestcontrol.com
Dermacentor female tick
Dermacentor female tick (photo by Nikolai Stanilevich)

Related : What eats ticks?

Haemaphysalis

Males and non-fed females reach 3-14mm. These ticks live in plain and foothill steppes mainly, sometimes they inhabit semi-deserts and forests.

Haemaphysalis female tick
Haemaphysalis female tick

Haemaphysalis_longicornis

Hyalomma

They transmit the hemorrhagic fever. Males and hungry females have a length of 4-10mm whereas full females reach up to 25mm. The pests’ color is brown or dark brown.

Hyalomma female tick
Hyalomma female tick
Hyalomma male tick
Hyalomma male tick (photo by Sergei Markov)

Rhipicephalus

This species carries Q fever and other nasty illnesses. Males and non-fed females reach 2-5mm of length whereas fed females enlarge up to 10-12 mm.

Rhipicephalus female
Rhipicephalus female
Rhipicephalus male
Rhipicephalus male
Rhipicephalus
bugguide.net

We hope that this material will help you to define dangerous parasites and be prepared.

Remember to protect yourself with the proper clothing that covers your legs, arms, and head, and stay away from grassy areas during the tick season. 

Read next : Tick Nest and What do Tick Eggs Look Like?

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Meredith will assist you with your health and family problems. She is a professional therapist who has huge experience in the field of family health care.
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