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Tick: Western black legged

Ixodes pacificus

Photo by shebebusynow
Published on Project Noah
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44.0487, -123.351

Field Notes

Description:

tick that's brown with a black head and cowl (this specimen is missing its head, which was buried in me). The entire tick is less than 1/4"--the 3rd image is it on a quarter-inch grid.

Habitat:

oak, ash woods and springtime high grass where deer roam

Notes:

This one was not engorged when discovered (thankfully) but had completely buried its head in the skin. They are known to carry Lyme disease in this area. It would have been far better had the head come out at the same time, but you do what you can. The 4th photo is of the bite with the head still buried.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (10)
shebebusynow
All good advice. I don't want to go where you are right now, Karen--those nymphs are the ones most likely to transmit problems e.g. Lyme. Your advice, Dana, makes me think about wearing the metal pants clamps I use for bicycling, at the bottom of my pants. Bet they would help. I'm going back to the place where I got this last year, and I think I might stick to the paths...
CindyBinghamKeiser
I know it's not appealing but I wear tights or right jeans, boots and long sleeve. Not the best in the summer but it helps!
KarenL
I've tried that & deet Emma - nasty stuff. I think I'm more concerned about absorbing or inhaling that than getting bitten - plus I would scare away all the bugs I want to photograph!
HemaShah
How about anti repellant. There is a premathin which you can by at the camping store. if you wash your clothes in that the ticks won't touch you for a good two weeks!
KarenL
Ouch! I pull several of these guys off me every day. I always seem to miss at least one - as you say they are very tenacious. Covering up doesn't help as they jump crawl over your clothes & find a way in. I actually get less when I'm wearing shorts & a vest top as I can usually feel them on my skin & dispose of them before they latch on. We have lots of the tiny nymphs here at the moment - very hard to see or feel until they are engorged. :(
shebebusynow
Have learned the hard way (from friends) to jump right on the antibiotic, but sadly there isn't an accurate test for the western variant of Lyme, so I just have to carry on & watch for symptoms. @ Lars, I always cover myself, and did that day, except possibly for my hair. They're just tenacious little beasts!
HemaShah
@shebe , Fortunately you sought medical treatment for the bite! Follow up on it and get tested again.
LarsKorb
Just came back from an off-road walk with the dog - while he had none, I had to get rid off 3 of these little bloodsuckers. Just detected them in time. Note: Always cover your arms, legs, neck and hair if you're about to take a walk in woodland. That's what I learned as No.1 rule while I was working in the woods years ago.
shebebusynow
I think I picked it up while wading through tall grass on the Oregon Country Fair grounds, taking wildflower photos in May. I've still got a dark mark where it bit, months later. Hopefully the doxycycline prevented any possible Lyme.
CindyBinghamKeiser
Yuck! I just cant stand ticks. Did you pick this one up at Fern Ridge?

Tags

Photographed
PublishedMay 18, 2011

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