Adults have an ornate brown-and-white mottling on the dorsal side. Very common in Missouri.Īmerican dog tick ( Dermacentor variabilis) - Newly hatched larvae are yellow. Males often have dots or white streaks on the edge of their bodies.

Lone star tick ( Amblyomma americanum) - Females are easily identified by the white dot in the center of the back. Three species of hard ticks are commonly encountered in Missouri: During the larval, so-called seed tick stage, ticks have 6 legs and are about as large as a poppy seed. When engorged with blood, ticks may swell up to about 3/8 inch long and turn gray (especially the females). Adults (depending on species) are 1/16 to 1/4 inch long (ticks are often described as about the size of a sesame seed). In their adult forms, our three species of hard ticks have 8 legs, a small plate over the main body on the top side, and tough 'skin' (making it hard to crush a tick). For up-to-date, detailed information about tick-borne diseases, consult the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. If you have a tick-borne illness, it is important to begin treatment as soon as possible. If you are experiencing possible symptoms of tick-borne illness or have questions about medical issues, please consult your doctor or other health care provider. It is not intended to diagnose tick-borne diseases or provide treatment information. Note: This field guide page is intended to supply basic introductory biology and natural history information about three Missouri species of ticks. Because they can carry serious, sometimes deadly diseases, it's important to keep up to date on tick-related health issues, and protect yourself from their bites. On your body, check areas like: In and around the hair and ears. When you or your pets are coming in from outside, be sure to look everyone over carefully for ticks, especially during the spring and summer months. Ticks drink the blood of humans and other mammals. According to the CDC, ticks need to be attached for 36-48 hours in order to cause damage.

Seed ticks