What kind of tick is this?

January 12, 2012 1:36 PM

What kind of tick is this: http://tinypic.com/r/1oubnr/5
posted by thankyoumuchly to Science & Nature (9 answers total)

Where are you/where did you find it?
posted by jquinby at 1:41 PM on January 12, 2012

Brown Dog Tick perhaps?
posted by Trexsock at 1:47 PM on January 12, 2012

What's That Bug?
posted by Stagger Lee at 1:59 PM on January 12, 2012

Response by poster: @Trexsock - do you think this is a male or female? I thought the males had spots all over them, which this picture does not show.
posted by thankyoumuchly at 2:10 PM on January 12, 2012

Tick Identification Guide
I can't really tell from the photo. It would also help if you said where you found this Tick so we could break it down by geography. That said, engorged female ticks are hard to tell apart.
posted by JimmyJames at 2:11 PM on January 12, 2012

Looks like a deer tick to me...I'm in Northern CA and we seem 'em everywhere.
posted by Gusaroo at 2:26 PM on January 12, 2012

It is probably female because of the size, but impossible to tell from the picture. (qualifications: I do my research on ticks and have to ID piles and piles of them)
posted by bolognius maximus at 2:49 PM on January 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

Depending on where you are, some health agencies might identify it for you (and test it for Lyme disease, RMSF, etc) - usually free as part of a passive surveillance program. In Canada ticks can be sent to Health Canada. I'm sure it differs by area, jurisdiction, etc.
posted by lulu68 at 3:25 PM on January 12, 2012

It's too large to be a deer tick for sure.
posted by DoubleLune at 4:16 PM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]