sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

This is a "Lone Star Tick" named for the lone white spot on its back. From what I have read on "TickCheck.com" they are observed to be the most aggressive species of ticks. Although they may carry the bacteria attributed to Lime Disease, luckily for me they seldom transmit it to their hosts although they can transmit other illnesses.

This S.O.B. was stuck on my lower back and Ellen (my much better half) had to pull it off of me. It itches like crazy and of course was quite small. All she could see was a black dot on a red blotch on my back. I'm sure that the piece of flesh on one of its mouth parts is a piece of me and fortunately its head pulled out when she extracted it.

Not to be one to let an opportunity pass, I took it downstairs and let it soak in a bath of alcohol and then staged it for a photo shoot. I'm very reserved at taking insects for specimens and there are many that I would never ever consider taking however this rat bastard got what it deserved!

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Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Tricky suckers! I regularly check myself for ticks when out. Our species to watch for are deer ticks. I understand that it takes about a day for them to transfer bacteria over, so if that is the same for this species then your risk is probably low. Still, I would recommend reading up on it to learn about what is advisable right now.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Are you familiar with permethrin? You spray that on clothes that you wear when you go out in the woods and fields, and it repels ticks. It is very effective and lasts through several washes. Ticks grab on to your pants or socks when you brush against the leaf they are holding on to, and then climb until they find warm soft flesh. If you have treated your pants or socks with permethrin they will drop off. It is available at places like Bass Pro Shop and Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP6572-Permethrin-Repellent/dp/B07CD9NFB4/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=permethrin&qid=1558521098&s=gateway&sr=8-3

timm27 Loc: Earth

Great image!
Glad it wasn't Deer Tick.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks for the great advice and I'm going to order some today. I try to spend every day that I can in the fields and bog with my camera in hand. Most of my favorite grounds have been under flood water for months now and with the heavy storms coming in the high water will hold even longer.

This appears to be exactly the product that I'm looking for to go with the Deep Woods Off that I spray on.

tinusbum Loc: east texas

excellent stack! never seen one that close before

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

What I found quite interesting when viewed under magnification was how their bodies look like a deflated balloon which is wrinkled. I suspect that it evolved that way so that it can expand as it gorges itself with its hosts blood.

The mouthparts look quite interesting under magnification also and I could see how they hook themselves into the host.

What I didn't like whatsoever was that I was the host..!

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Nice shot. I hate ticks. Nasty beggars.

napabob Loc: Napa CA

bugly..............

another nice one

tsca Loc: USA

Ouch!!! Great photo of the little rat bastard

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

As far as I am concerned you can give these an alcohol drink as often as possible. Do your dogs get them too? Nice image of course.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Brenda, thankfully no they do not. We have seven smooth fox terriers and one mini-bull terrier. We show them and they are part of the family and they take turns sleeping with us (except for the mini-bull that sleeps on the couch where I sit).

We went to a dog show over the weekend and I walked through a lot of the fairground property so I suspect that I picked up the hitchhiker there.

I know that this forum is for macro images however you asked about our dog family so here's a sampling of just two of them.

I beg forgiveness for posting the photos here.

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EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Lovely dogs Gary, I used to be a dog groomer and while most of my clients were poodles I had many other breeds including the rough coated Fox terrier which were always nice dogs.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

To lessen the chances of tickbites wear light colour long pants and shirt to see them easier. Wear long socks and tape legs over socks. Spray repellant well at the taped areas. DO NOT GET ANY ON YOUR CAMERA.
If y
you find one dug in, the safest way to remove is with Vaseline and bandaid. It will come loose. If bitten, look for the radiating redness, it can be in a few hours. If you get that CALL A DOCTOR.
Another way to remove is a sharp edged tool and scrape it out.
Lone star ticks are related to the ticks that spread Lyme disease.
All in the family (never liked that show) Ixodes ( say I zó dees).
The disease was first diagnosed in Lyme Connecticut. Thus the name.
An anecdote: At the club where I shoot pool, our bar maid is Susan, quite attractive. One night she says" Bill, will you look at my butt ?
I do, every time you walk by
No, seriously, I hear you know about Lyme's disease, she says. Would you look at bite?
She slid her jeans down about half way and showed me a tickbite (and a nice butt). Sure enough, a red bump. I told her what to watch for and call a doctor if she sees that. I see her a couple weeks later. The classic bullets eye had appeared. She went to the doctor. She tested positive and got the medicine to destroy it in plenty of time.
It is a latent disease and causes a lot of problems many years later.
Her doctor said she got it early, so no future problems.
Bill