Ticks are parasites that need to feed on blood to go through the various stages of development. The tick-larvae feed and become nymphs, or immature ticks, which then transform into adult individuals after another blood meal. The deer tick is a type of tick that transmits Lyme disease and other diseases to the host. Deer ticks are also known as black-legged ticks and their favorite prey are white-tailed deer and small rodents. They usually live in wooded areas and bushes or on the borders between fields and woods. If a tick stings you or sticks to your clothes it is important that you know how to recognize it so that it can activate you for the appropriate medical treatment.
Steps
Step 1. Remove the tick from the sting area very carefully
Make sure you take out your head as well and use tweezers instead of your fingers. One mistake can cause Lyme disease.
Step 2. You can put the mint in a vial or on a white sheet and then use duct tape to block it
Step 3. Take a magnifying glass and look at the tick's body
Ticks are arachnids, so it should have eight legs. They also have a flattened drop-shaped body. There should be no eyes on the head. If it has eyes on its second legs, it is more likely a dog tick than a deer tick.
Step 4. Look for the dorsal exoskeleton
This is a hard area behind the tick's head. If it is present, it is likely that it is a deer tick, dog tick or Amblyomma americanum which are all ticks with an exoskeleton. There should be a distinct mouth area above this hard shell.
Step 5. Observe the sample by turning the vial
If it is a tick it will try to climb but will not be able to fly or jump.
Step 6. Hold a tape measure or stick over the tick to measure it
Ticks are very small so you need a tool that appreciates millimeters.
Write down the approximate measurements. Deer ticks are smaller than the others. Deer tick nymphs are the size of a poppy seed, 1-2mm in diameter, while adult individuals range from 2mm to 3.5mm and are roughly the size of a sesame seed. Adult dog ticks measure approximately 5mm in length
Step 7. Examine the armor and body for distinctive markings
Adult males are dark brown. Females have a very hard dorsal exoskeleton and a reddish-brown abdomen. Dog ticks have brown and white spots on the shell and Amblyomma americanum have a distinctive white star on the exoskeleton. You should recognize the marks even if the tick has eaten as it remains the same size.
Step 8. Look for the tick's mouth
Deer ticks have a long snout like Amblyomma americanum, while dog ticks have a smaller mouth.
You can recognize a deer tick by its mouth and by the markings on the armor
Step 9. Look at photos of the deer and dog ticks, compare your sample's mouth to the photos to determine what type of tick you found
You can find the photos online and in entomology books.
