Eastern Wood Tick
Description
1/8". Male's body pale gray with reddish-brown spots and legs. Female's body reddish-brown with small shield of black-speckled gray near head. legs brown; head often orange above.
Habitat
Woodlands and shrubbery beside trails.
Range
Eastern North America.
Food
Adult feeds on larger animals and blood of mammals, especially deer. Larva feeds on rodents.
Life Cycle
Tick clings to plants while extending fore legs to seize passing host. Tick climbs on prey for meal , dropping off after fully engorged. If not yet mature, tick molts and repeats process. Mature female, if mated before last major meal, drops many eggs, producing six-legged larvae.
Other
 This tick can transfer disease organisms from one host to the next. After a walk through a field, it is wise to inspect clothing and hair for ticks. Then the ticks should be removed and burned or drowned in alcohol.
Picture
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