American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

About American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

• Kingdom: Animals
• Phylum: Arthropods
• Class: Arachnids
• Order: Ticks
• Family: Hard-backed Ticks

Dermacentor variabilis, also known as the American dog tick or wood tick, is a species of tick that is known to carry bacteria responsible for several diseases in humans, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. It is one of the best-known hard ticks. Diseases are spread when it sucks blood from the host. It may take several days for the host to experience symptoms.