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What does a female western blacklegged tick look like?

This magnified dorsal photograph shows the body outline and scutum of a female western blacklegged tick, a species that feeds on wildlife and other hosts.

Reviewed by VuxLore® Knowledge Team For Animal owners

What does a female western blacklegged tick look like?

Short answer

This magnified dorsal photograph shows the body outline and scutum of a female western blacklegged tick, a species that feeds on wildlife and other hosts.

At a glance

A sourced specimen view demonstrating why host, geography and anatomy must be considered together.

Key takeaways

• Include a scale in identification photographs

• Photograph the whole specimen before close-ups

• Host alone cannot confirm a tick species

A whole-specimen dorsal view

This CDC photograph shows a female western blacklegged tick. A host record can support context, but it cannot replace an anatomical identification.

Sources and further reading

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Preventing Ticks on Pets

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: DPDx: Ticks