Few areas of the world are spared from ticks, and North Carolina is no exception. Ticks are arthropods in the Class Arachnida. There are approximately 850 species of ticks classified worldwide; only a few of these are found in North Carolina. The head, thorax and abdomen are combined into a single distinct body region. All ticks are parasitic and require several blood meals throughout their life cycle. 

There are two main groups of ticks: those that live inside the nest or burrow of the animal they feed on (nidiculous ticks) and those that live in the open environment (non-nidiculous ticks) such as wooded or grassy areas. Since the non-nidiculuous ticks share the same areas that humans use they are the ones we encounter most often.

In addition to being a nuisance, ticks can transmit diseases and cause severe illness in humans and domestic animals. There are four species that cause the most concern: the American dog tick (Demacentor variabilis), brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis).

For more information:

Biology and Life Cycle	Species Common to N.C.	Prevention and Control
Brochures	Tick-borne Illness	2009-10 Tick Projects