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Sheep tick

Ixodes ricinus

Photo by Dangermouse
Published on Project Noah
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37.1542, -7.71883

Field Notes

Description:

A familiar arachnid. Spider-like larvae are sometimes found crawling among vegetation or over clothing; attach themselves to mammals, including humans, and become bloated with blood.

Habitat:

Widespread in open country, found wherever sheep, goats or horses graze.

Reference Links:

Ixodes ricinus

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)
Dangermouse
I. scapularis seems to be confined to the USA, whereas the I. ricinus is found in Europe. The grey 'blobs' are ticks which have been feeding and are full of blood - this photo is of a starved tick, which jumped on me as I was walking through a field where goats normally graze.
shebebusynow
This one looks more like Ixodes scapularis--the I. ricinus I'm seeing posted elsewhere here are big gray blobs named after a castor bean.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Portugal's Biodiversity
Photographed
PublishedApril 22, 2012

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