What Are The Most Common Tick Species?
People always post a picture of a random bug they found in their yard to see if the internet can help them identify it. We love seeing pests from another state or city, and want to know what it is and if they could end up in our yard. Some bugs you don't really worry about, but others, like ticks, you want to know the different kinds because no matter which it is, you don't want it in your yard. If you love to be outside, go for walks in nature or like to take your doggo for a walk around the neighborhood, these are the most common types of ticks to know about in case you find one on you or your pet.
Each state and region has a different answer when it comes to the most common types of ticks there. Each type of tick can transmit different viruses and diseases, looks different, attaches to different animals and likes to hide in different types of habitats. You will need to look up your specific area to know what types of ticks to be on the lookout for.
Soft and Hard TicksThere are two main classifications of ticks, soft and hard. Throughout the whole world, there are 700 types of hard ticks and 200 kinds of soft ticks. We know that sounds scary. That is a lot of species of ticks, but only a small percentage bite and then transmit diseases and illnesses to humans.
Soft TicksSoft ticks can live anywhere from months to years, depending on the species. This kind starts as an egg, hatches into a larva and then transforms into an adult nymph. A soft tick's bite is usually painless, lasting only about 10 to 15 minutes, which makes it hard to detect.
Hard TickHard ticks start as an egg that is only laid by a female tick. It hatches into a larva and then has to find a host, which is usually a bird or small mammal. Once it feeds, it falls and then will transform into a nymph, which needs to feed again on a larger host to become a full adult. A bite from a hard tick is usually painless, and its life cycle can be anywhere from one to two years.
The Western Blacklegged Tick is found mostly in California, but can be spotted in Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, Washington and Utah. These guys have black legs and a black shield with a reddish body. These ticks have caught rides on mice, foxes, squirrels, lizards, coyotes, deer and birds. This type of tick can transmit Lyme disease and a handful of other viruses and diseases.
Blacklegged TickCommonly known as a Deer Tick, this is the most popular type of tick found in the U.S. and is around the size of a poppy seed, making them the smallest tick in North America. These have a reddish coloring with a black shell and are mostly found in the Eastern United States.
Groundhog TickThe Groundhog Tick can be found all over the Eastern United States. This tick is the main transmitter of the Powassan virus and sticks to groundhogs, raccoons, squirrels, weasels, skunks, foxes and sometimes domestic animals. These ticks have a light brown or blonde coloring and are sometimes referred to as a Woodchuck Tick.
American Dog TickThe American Dog Tick is mostly around in the spring and summer and has a darker brown coloring on the body. This is the main offender for transmitting Rocky Mountain spotted fever. You can find this tick East of the Rocky Mountains, along the East Coast and the Gulf, down the Pacific Coast, a bit of Alaska and some parts of Canada.
The Lone Star Tick has a reddish-brown coloring, but the main identifier is the white dot on the female's back, which looks like a "lone star." These vicious biters are mostly in the South and parts of the Eastern United States. A problem from Spring through Fall, these ticks transmit a variety of viruses and diseases, like the Bourbon virus, Heartland virus and Lyme disease's twin, STARI (Southern tick-associated rash illness).
Pacific Coast TickThe Pacific Coast Tick is seen throughout the Southwest, Oregon and is California's most common tick. It has a brown-black body coloring, and this tick is a bit of a trickster, as its bite looks like a spider or other insect bite. It can transmit the Colorado tick fever virus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Pacific Coast tick fever, among others.
Gulf Coast TickWith a brownish body with a lighter tan pattern on the top of the shell, the Gulf Coast Tick can be found along the Gulf Coast of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast of the United States and can spread Rickettsia.
Most species have the same body shape, they just are smaller or larger. If you want to be able to identify a specific tick, you want to look at the coloring of the body and for any distinctive markings on the shell. These will tell you what kind so you can be aware of what possible diseases and illnesses it could carry.
Always Check For TicksNo matter where you are in the United States, a tick could be just a few steps away. Even if you don't look up what the common ticks are, you need to check yourself and your pets before you go inside the house. Ticks can range in size from a grain of sand to a poppy seed to an apple seed to half an inch long, depending on what stage of life they are in and if they have just been fed. Have a general idea of what a tick looks like and the common ones by you so you can keep them off you as best as you can. No one wants to find one on them, but absolutely nobody wants to be infected with a disease or illness from a tick bite. The more you know, the more you can protect yourself and your family.
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