Blacklegged Tick

Blacklegged Ticks are more commonly called the "Deer Tick". Males are brown or black. Females have a black upper half with a reddish-brown lower (pictured above). These ticks look a lot like a watermelon seed with legs.

 

They are most active in the fall, early spring, and warm winter days. They don't tolerate heat very well, so they generally prefer to live in the mountains. However, they also favor Virginia's suburban forested areas (like many areas in and around Richmond) and even inhabit the coastal regions where the water cools the air.

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Blacklegged Ticks can also spread illnesses, such as Lyme disease, Powassan virus and Anaplasmosis.

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To learn even more about ticks (and tick-borne diseases), check out our blog post