Brown Dog Ticks

Behavior and Habitat of Brown Dog Ticks

Brown Dog ticks are three-host feeders, meaning that a host is fed during the larval, nymphal, and adult life stages, between molting. In the United States, Brown Dog ticks prefer to feed on dogs in all three life stages, although it will feed on other mammals, including humans, if a canine host cannot be located. In the southeastern US, most collections are from canines, while some uncommon collections have been made from rodents, deer, and humans. After the female feeds in the adult stage, she will begin depositing up to 5,000 eggs. The number of eggs is dependent upon the size of the female and the amount of blood ingested. Once eggs hatch, larvae begin searching for a host through questing. Each life stage of this tick can live from 3 to 5 months without taking a blood meal, but is dependent upon host availability, temperature, and other factors. Seasonality can vary, but in Florida, the life cycle can occur throughout the year, both inside and outside of homes, kennels, and dog runs. Brown Dog ticks are found worldwide, more frequently in warmer geographical areas. Brown Dog ticks are able to complete their entire life cycle indoors, which is unusual among many tick species. Once the ticks are brought into a home on an infested dog, the earliest stages of the infestation are usually not detected, and the first indication of an infestation begins when the tick population has reached a very high level (ticks seen climbing walls, furniture, etc...).