The following were submitted to my laboratory for identification. The larger of the 2 arthropods was still alive. Identification?
Here are some close-up shots:
Thanks to Emily Fernholz for taking these gorgeous photos!
A parasitologist's view of the world
5 comments:
Such an adorable family! These soft ticks are not usually a problem in my neighborhood (New England) but can be quite a treacherous fiend in the western mountains of the US. Their cousin's, however, cause plenty of pain (including joint) in my neck of the tick-infested woods.
Mommy and Daddy Dermacentor; not soft ticks, due to the visible mouthparts from above, and the scutum -- filling the entire back of the male.
Dermacentor variabilis! Hard ticks!
For sure an engorged female and male hard tick, they are quite prolific. At this I would go with previous identifications of Dermacentor, though a close up of the head parts would make the job a little easier.
Florida Fan
Definitely Mom and Dad Dermacentor. Without a good shot of the spiracular plates or collection location, I wouldn't want to hazard a species ID.
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