Life cycle from egg to adult is 48-82 days. Adults have been known to live up to one year without feeding. Lives in close association with birds. This species is not commonly collected in the District.

Life cycle completed on a single host and lasts from 39 – 259 days (egg to engorged adult). Females known to produce 2000 to more than 4000 eggs. Larvae climb to tips of vegetation and attach to passing hosts.

This species is widely distributed throughout California except for the very arid areas of the central valley and south eastern desert region. It has also been found in Oregon and Baja California. The immature stages feed on rodents, especially squirrels, while the adults prefer large mammals such as cattle, horses, deer and humans.

This tick is found throughout the United States as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. Within California it is most frequently found along the coastal ranges and central valley. This species is an important vector of Rocky Mountain Spotted fever rickettsia and the bacterium responsible for Tularemia. The saliva of this tick has also been known to cause tick paralysis.

Widely distributed throughout the western hemisphere. Adult and nympal ticks present year-round although most common in the spring. Larval ticks are found spring, summer and fall.

Widely distributed throughout North America. Commonly found in rodent nests and rarely on hosts. Not known to quest for hosts like many other tick species.

Not commonly encountered although it appears activity occurs year-round. Tends to feed on birds, especially ground frequenting galliform and passerine birds.

The Western Black-Legged Tick is a common tick found throughout the west coast of North America. This species of tick is a vector of both the Lyme disease spirochete and Equine Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis Rickettsia in California.

Not common. Mostly found on wood rats or in their nests in the foothill and low mountainous regions of California. Primary host is the wood rat. Sometimes found on skunks.

Life cycle from egg to adult lasts more than one year. Commonly found in the bedding/resting areas of deer and cattle, especially in chaparral under oaks and brush. Larvae feed on the host for up to 9 days, nymphs about 1 1/2 hours, and adults no more than 50 minutes. Nymphs have seven instars, each requiring a blood meal.

The Brown Dog tick is a widespread tick that is an important pest of dogs. This species feeds on dogs as a larva, nymph and adult. Within California it is most frequently encountered on dogs housed within dog kennels. The Brown Dog Tick is known to vector Rocky Mountain Fever, canine ehrlichiosis and canine babesiosis.