Did you just find a tick on yourself or a loved one? TickCheck can test your tick and determine whether it carries the bacteria that transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. There are hundreds of species of ticks throughout North America.

Tick Identification is extremely important for a number of reasons; the most important of which, is figuring out what pathogens a tick may carry (and transmit). While it’s typically much easier to identify an adult tick, immature ticks can also transmit diseases.

There are two families of ticks found in the United States: Ixodidae (hard ticks) and Argasidae (soft ticks). Of the 700 species of hard ticks and 200 species of soft ticks found throughout the world, only a few are known to bite and transmit disease to humans.

General information on diseases spread by ticks and signs and symptoms of tickborne disease. Reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense against tickborne diseases. Steps to take after a tick bite including removing a tick and watching for signs and symptoms. Ticks require blood meals at each stage of life to survive.

This tick ID guide is intended to aid in the identification of (unfed) ADULT ticks. Ticks shorter than 3mm (1/8 inch) are usually immature and more difficult to identify. These smaller should be sent to our experts to properly ID.

Of the hundreds of tick species in existence, humans contract most tick-borne diseases from just three types of tick: blacklegged ticks, dog ticks, and lone star ticks. Select a tick image or name to learn more about each species. The Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania can test each of these tick species for common pathogens.

Submit your own tick photo and get a free tick ID by a tick expert along with guidance on best next actions to lessen your risk of future tick bites and tickborne disease. NOTE: Tick ID accuracy from photos is dependent on the quality of the photo and the region where the tick was found.

Ever wonder what a tick expert looks at first when identifying a tick? If you know what we’re looking for, it will help you identify ticks, too, and also help you take a better tick picture to send to TickSpotters.

This handy business card-sized tick identification features the three most common ticks found in the US (dog, wood, lone star), and features a sizing chart which shows examples of larvae, nymph and adults for each species.

What should you be looking for when trying to identify a tick? The size and colors, or markings can assist in identifying the type of tick you have found.