Dog Ticks
Scientific name : Rhipicephalus sanguineus
Class : Arachnida
Order : Ixodida
Brown dog tick, kennel tick is a species of tick found worldwide, but more commonly in warmer climates. This species is unusual among ticks in that its entire lifecycle can be completed indoors. The brown dog tick is easily recognized by its reddish-brown color, elongated body shape, and hexagonal basis capituli (flat surface where mouthparts are attached). Adults are 2.28 to 3.18 mm in length and 1.11 to 1.68 mm in width. They do not have ornamentation on their backs.
The tick follows the normal developmental stages of egg, larva, nymph, and adult. It is called a three-host tick because it feeds on a different host during each of the larval, nymphal, and adult stages. However, the hosts tend to be of one species. Larvae feed for 5–15 days, drop from the host, and develop into nymphs after 1–2 weeks. The nymphs then attach to either the previous host or a different host and feed for 3–13 days before dropping from the host. After two weeks, they develop into adults and attach to another host where they continue to ingest blood, followed by a period of mating. The females drop yet again in order to lay their eggs, which can total up to 7,000 in number.
Dog Ticks feeds on a wide variety of mammals, but dogs are the preferred host. The preferred attachment sites on a dog are the head, ears, back, between toes, and axilla.
As they feed, ticks can transmit a large number of diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, Q fever, and Lyme disease.
Class : Arachnida
Order : Ixodida
Brown dog tick, kennel tick is a species of tick found worldwide, but more commonly in warmer climates. This species is unusual among ticks in that its entire lifecycle can be completed indoors. The brown dog tick is easily recognized by its reddish-brown color, elongated body shape, and hexagonal basis capituli (flat surface where mouthparts are attached). Adults are 2.28 to 3.18 mm in length and 1.11 to 1.68 mm in width. They do not have ornamentation on their backs.
The tick follows the normal developmental stages of egg, larva, nymph, and adult. It is called a three-host tick because it feeds on a different host during each of the larval, nymphal, and adult stages. However, the hosts tend to be of one species. Larvae feed for 5–15 days, drop from the host, and develop into nymphs after 1–2 weeks. The nymphs then attach to either the previous host or a different host and feed for 3–13 days before dropping from the host. After two weeks, they develop into adults and attach to another host where they continue to ingest blood, followed by a period of mating. The females drop yet again in order to lay their eggs, which can total up to 7,000 in number.
Dog Ticks feeds on a wide variety of mammals, but dogs are the preferred host. The preferred attachment sites on a dog are the head, ears, back, between toes, and axilla.
As they feed, ticks can transmit a large number of diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, Q fever, and Lyme disease.