American Dog Ticks

Behavior and Habitat of American Dog Ticks

American Dog ticks are three-host feeders, meaning that a host is fed during the larval, nymphal, and adult life stages, between molting. The larval tick prefers small mammals, such as mice. The nymphal tick prefers medium mammals, such as raccoons or opossums, and the adult tick prefers large mammals, such as dogs or humans. After the female feeds in the adult stage, she will begin depositing anywhere between 4,500 to 6,000 eggs in the soil. Once eggs hatch, larvae begin searching for a host through questing. Larvae can live up to 11 months without a blood meal, while nymphs and adults can live up to 6 months and 2 years, respectively, without feeding. Seasonality peaks at different times throughout different areas of the country. In Florida, activity peaks from April under September, while other geographical regions may experience peaks in activity throughout the late spring, summer, and early fall months. American Dog ticks can be found in approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of the United States. They are found from Montana, south to the border of Texas and Mexico, and areas east. They are also found in California, west of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains. The heaviest populations are found from New England, south to Florida. American Dog ticks occur mostly in wooded, overgrown, and high-grass areas, although it is not uncommon for residential landscapes to become infested.