Tick species identification
Gulf Coast tick
What to look for
Long mouthparts and ornate pale markings; adults are often found on larger animals and people.
Known disease associations
- — Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis
Finding this species does not mean the tick carried a pathogen or that transmission occurred.
Photos need context
Feeding, life stage, image angle, and damage can change how a tick looks. A useful identification weighs several visible traits together and states uncertainty when the photo does not show enough detail.
Reference: CDC tick information.