Ixodes scapularis is a hard-bodied tick found in much of the eastern half of North America. Its common name is the black-legged tick, although it is sometimes known by the misnomer deer tick because its adult life stages frequently feed on white-tailed deer. In 1979, ticks found associated with Babesiosis in the northeastern US were given the scientific name Ixodes dammini and the common name deer tick. In 1993, it was shown that Ixodes dammini was the same as a previously identified species, Ixodes scapularis, from the southeastern US, which already had the common name black-legged tick.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Eastern Black-legged Tick being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Ixodida
- Family
- Ixodidae
- Genus
- Ixodes
- Species
- Ixodes scapularis
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