![]() These ticks have a more rounded body shape than other species. If you are going to see one in Maine, it would be along the edges of forests. The male has an ornately patterned shield covering his entire back. They are dark or reddish brown, and the female has a light-colored shield. They are a quarter-inch long and can expand to half an inch after feeding. This tick has been spotted in Maine but has not established a permanent population here. These are rare in Maine and, if encountered, are often found on migratory birds in the state. The adults are an eighth of an inch long. This tick feeds primarily on wild birds and occasionally on turkeys. Males are a reddish tan and tend to be slightly smaller than the females. Adult females are typically tan with a darker shield. Squirrel ticks are generally larger than some of the other Ixodes species. They are also found in abandoned or seasonal buildings like summer camps where squirrels may have taken up residence. They feed on marine birds and rarely on people.Īs their name implies, these ticks feed primarily on squirrels and are found mostly in nests throughout the state. Males are similar in size and color but lack the shield and have rounded or rectangular shaped formations, known as “festoons” along the bottom margin of the body. Adult females can vary from tan to brown with a darker shield. Adult females are typically an eighth of an inch long and up to a half-inch when engorged. The only tick species found in Antarctica, the seabird tick can also be found on Maine’s offshore islands in seabird nests, on grass and under rocks or debris. They are found in a variety of forested areas in Maine. ![]() Nymphs are similar in color to adults but are much smaller. Adults are a tan to reddish tan, with females having a slightly darker shield. These are small ticks that are less than an eighth of an inch long. It rarely feeds on humans and prefers mice, voles or rats, and it rarely leaves the nest site of its host. This tick prefers cool, moist areas in forests and along the edges of rivers. Males are tan or brownish with no shield. Females are an eighth of an inch long, tan with a dark shield. Woodchuck ticks are the most common species in Maine and tend to stick close to the dens of their hosts - woodchucks and other small mammals. They are very similar looking to deer ticks and it can be difficult to tell them apart without a microscope. Males are the same color and do not have the shield. The females are tan or reddish tan with a darker shield on the back. This tiny tick is about the size of a sesame seed or smaller. ![]() They are found wherever you find moose in Maine, particularly in forested areas of central and northern Maine.īy Kevin Miller, Maine Public and Esta Pratt-Kielley, Maine Public Woodchuck Tick Adult males are dark brown with a white crosshatch pattern on their back. ![]() Adult females are typically reddish-brown with a creamy white shield. Winter ticks are approximately a quarter-inch in length, with females reaching three-quarters of an inch when fully engorged. A recent study showed they were responsible for a 90 percent mortality rate in last year’s collared moose calves. ![]() Winter TickĪlso called moose ticks, the winter ticks are creating serious problems for Maine’s moose population. This is a common species in Maine and is found in forested areas, open fields and lawns. The males have cream or gray markings covering their entire back. Males are a little smaller and also reddish-brown, but without the shield. They are reddish-brown with a creamy-white shield behind the head. Credit: Courtesy of Griffin Dill American Dog TickĪdult female dog ticks range from one-quarter-inch long to a half-inch or longer when fully fed. A dog tick, right, is twice the size of the Lyme disease-carrying deer tick seen on the left. Deer ticks have been reported in all 16 counties and most commonly are found in mixed forests and along the woodland edges of fields or suburban landscaped areas. Juveniles, called nymphs, also carry and transmit Lyme disease and are about the size of a poppy seed. The females can increase to a half-inch size after feeding, and their color changes to gray or dark brown. The females are brown or reddish orange with a dark brown or black “shield” directly behind their head. Deer TickĪlso called the blacklegged tick, adult females are less than one-eighth-inch long and males are slightly smaller. This guide will help you identify the 15 ticks found in Maine, but you also can submit a sample to the cooperative extension to have it identified. ![]()
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