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Tennessee | United States

Black-legged Tick


Tick | Ixodes scapularis



Entry Last Edited: 09/10/2022 | Content ©www.BugsOfTennessee.com

Insect Order



Taxonomy

Other Names: "Deer Tick"

The Taxonomic Breakdown is the scientific way to categorize a partocular insect species from its largest group (Animalia) to its smallest (variable). The Genus and Species categorizations taken together make up the species' scientific name shown above, in this case Ixodes scapularis.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Acari
Family: Ixodidae
Genus: Ixodes
Species: scapularis


Characteristics

Biting insect icon
Biting: This insect is known to bite. Exercise caution.
Caution insect icon
Caution: Caution should be exercised around this insect.
Harmlful insect icon
Harmful: Known to be harmful in one way or another.
Indoor insect icon
Indoors: Can be found indoors; inside dwellings.
Outdoor insect icon
Outdoors: Typically found across the great outdoors.
Eight-Legged insect icon
Eight-Legged: Eight legs are common to this insect.
Small / Tiny insect icon
Small / Tiny: Noticeably small to the naked eye.


Description

The Black-legged Tick is also known by these other names:

Deer Tick

The Black-legged Tick has been identified by site users by the following descriptors:

small    crawling    eight-legged    outdoors    indoors    biting    harmful    red    black    brown


Sighting Guide

The general likelihood of encountering this insect based on a given month of the year in the state of Tennessee. Generally, the best sighting months are June through August with peak occurring in July.

41F
JAN
44F
FEB
53F
MAR
62F
APR
70F
MAY
78F
JUN
80F
JUL
79F
AUG
73F
SEP
62F
OCT
52F
NOV
44F
DEC

Size

Below is a representation of the 'smallest-small' and 'largest-large' sizes commonly associated with the Black-legged Tick. Due to monitor differences, sizes may not be exact on your particular screen. Conversions to millimeters are provided for convenience.

Lowest-Low:
0.12 inches
(3 mm)
Highest-High:
0.16 inches
(4 mm)


Identifying Colors

Below you will find the colors most commonly associated with the Black-legged Tick. Both Primary and Secondary colors are represented in the showcase. Due to monitor differences, colors may not be exact representations.

BROWN
RED
BLACK


Tennessee County Reach

The Black-legged Tick can be found in the following Tennessee counties:

Anderson; Bedford; Benton; Bledsoe; Blount; Bradley; Campbell; Cannon; Carroll; Carter; Cheatham; Chester; Claiborne; Clay; Cocke; Coffee; Crockett; Cumberland; Davidson; De Kalb; Decatur; Dickson; Dyer; Fayette; Fentress; Franklin; Gibson; Giles; Grainger; Greene; Grundy; Hamblen; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardeman; Hardin; Hawkins; Haywood; Henderson; Henry; Hickman; Houston; Humphreys; Jackson; Jefferson; Johnson; Knox; Lake; Lauderdale; Lawrence; Lewis; Lincoln; Loudon; Macon; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Maury; McMinn; McNairy; Meigs; Monroe; Montgomery; Moore; Morgan; Obion; Overton; Perry; Pickett; Polk; Putnam; Rhea; Roane; Robertson; Rutherford; Scott; Sequatchie; Sevier; Shelby; Smith; Stewart; Sullivan; Sumner; Tipton; Trousdale; Unicoi; Union; Van Buren; Warren; Washington; Wayne; Weakley; White; Williamson; Wilson


Black-legged Tick Picture (1)

1 of 1
Image of an adult Black-legged / Deer Tick insect.; Credit: Julie R. of Tennessee.
This image is original to www.InsectIdentification.org; Used with Permission.

Similar Insects



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