Ticks

Tropical Bont Tick Amblyomma variegatum Fabricius (Arachnida: Acari: Ixodidae)

Karen C. Prine and Amanda C. Hodges

Brown Dog Tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille (Arachnida: Acari: Ixodidae)

Yuexun Tian, Cynthia C. Lord, and Phillip E. Kaufman

Blacklegged Tick or Deer Tick, Ixodes scapularis Say (Arachnida: Acari: Ixodidae)

Michael R. Patnaude and Thomas N. Mather

A UF/IFAS numbered Organism ID. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

Prescribed Fire as a Tool for Controlling Tick Populations in the Southeastern United States

Jennifer M. Fill, Hope M. Miller, and Raelene M. Crandall

There is an increase in reported tick-borne illnesses as the tick geographic range expands past historical boundaries. Prescribed fires, ignited intentionally for specific management goals, can indirectly affect tick abundance by disrupting tick predator and prey interactions and altering suitable tick habitat. The high temperatures during prescribed fires can also directly induce tick mortality. Repeated prescribed fires in southeastern United States tick habitat can be an affordable and environmentally conscious management option.

Gulf Coast Tick, Amblyomma maculatum Koch (Acari: Ixodidae: Amblyomminae)

Jeffrey C. Hertz and Phillip E. Kaufman

A UF/IFAS numbered Organism ID. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

American Dog Tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (Arachnida: Ixodida: Ixodidae)

Wai-Han Chan and Phillip E. Kaufman

A UF/IFAS numbered Organism ID. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

Relapsing Fever Tick Ornithodoros turicata Dugès, 1876 (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae)

Moriah B. Garrison, Nicholas Canino, and Estelle M. Martin

Ornithodoros turicata (Dugès, 1876), commonly referred to as the relapsing fever tick, is a soft tick species belonging to the family Argasidae. It is a key vector of Borrelia turicatae, a spirochete bacterium responsible for causing tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF). Known for its elusive behavior, O. turicata feeds rapidly and inhabits concealed environments such as caves, animal burrows, and cabins. These behaviors, combined with its role in transmitting relapsing fever, pose significant challenges for public health management and disease prevention efforts. While O. turicata is more commonly associated with the southwestern United States, it has been reported in parts of Florida, expanding its recognized range and relevance. This tick’s ability to survive for long periods without feeding and its ability to rapidly transmit pathogens during its short bloodmeals makes it an important vector for zoonotic diseases.