Identifying a Tick

Ticks are part of the arachnid family. Unlike other insects, ticks cannot fly or jump. A tick will wait for a host to walk by while resting on a blade of grass or shrub. A tick will engage in a process known as questing, whereby it reaches forward with its legs to clamp onto an unsuspecting host. The tick will then search for a suitable place to feed. Certain species of ticks can transmit diseases via their saliva.

Things You'll Need

• Jar
• Rubbing alcohol
• Soap
• Water

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Examine the legs of the tick. Look for eight legs. Insects have six legs and a pair of antennae. Ticks lack antennae.

• 2

  Look at the body of the tick. Identify if the tick has a scutum or hard shell. Hard-shelled ticks have mouth parts that are easily identifiable. Soft-shelled ticks will look like a raisin. The mouth part of a soft-shelled tick can only be visible from the underside of the tick.

• 3

  Notice if the tick is engorged. Ticks become swollen after feeding. An engorged tick found on your body may indicate a higher risk for you developing a disease such as Lyme disease.

• 4

  Identify any markings on the tick. A silver spot behind the head of a tick indicates it is a female American dog tick. Deer ticks have black legs, while Lone Star ticks have striping. Female Lone Star ticks will have spots on their backs.

• 5

  Look for the bite mark on your skin if you were bitten. Tick bites will form a red halo around the bite.

• 6

  Save the tick for identification by your physician when you're bitten by one. If you live in an area known to carry tick-borne diseases, identification of the species can help you know if you're at risk of developing a disease. Preserve the tick in a jar of rubbing alcohol to keep the tick from drying out.