Brown Dog Tick

The brown dog tick isn’t always brown, but does primarily host on dogs. Between 1/8″-1/2″ depending on how full of blood they are, individuals of this group of ticks can vary in appearance. This tick, like others, burrows its mouthparts into its host to feed on their blood. Shown are two examples, but this tick can be colored from red-brown to gray-green. The brown dog tick prefers dryer, sheltered locations unlike other ticks, and doesn’t do very well outdoors. They have a tendency to work their way into high places, especially when laying eggs. Later they come down to feed on a host. Brown dog ticks rarely feed on humans.