Female American Dog Tick
Due to its engorged body, the female American dog tick is one of the most recognizable ticks. Engorged adult females may grow to be as large as 1/2-inch in size. Following feeding, these female ticks drop from their hosts in order to lay eggs.
While female American dog ticks may not lay their eggs for three weeks after feeding, the blood collected within their engorged bodies sustains them. Female American dog ticks only reproduce once prior to dying, although each female lays tens of thousands of eggs at a time, thus ensuring the survival of the species.
The American dog tick is common in most parts of the United States. They can be found in meadows, forests and along weed-lined trails. Inside, American dog ticks dwell near potted plants and near the bedding of their hosts. American dog ticks are vectors of several harmful diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
