Minnesota tick identification5/2/2024 The combined results of hair loss, blood loss, and tick irritation can cause serious consequences for hosts. Moose that are affected by hair loss are sometimes called "ghost" moose since the body areas where the animals has little or no hair looks pale gray, rather than the brown color of normal, intact hair. This response to irritation may often result in hair loss and reduced feeding activities. Infested moose react to tick irritation by intensely grooming themselves and by rubbing against trees to remove ticks and “scratch” irritated skin. While moose ticks affect most host species to some degree, moose seem to suffer the most. Because winter ticks do not leave the host, huge numbers of ticks may be found on its host (a study from western Canada estimated an average of 33,000 ticks per moose.) Effects on Moose The eggs hatch in the spring, but larvae stay bunched together in an inactive state throughout the summer.Īs the weather cools in the fall months, they become active and wait on leaf litter or low vegetation for a host to brush by before attaching to the host. Blood engorged females that drop from their host lay an egg mass that may number up to 3,000 eggs. ![]() This means that moose ticks will attach to a host and remain on that host until it drops off and dies. Moose ticks differ from many other tick species since they are a one-host tick with a one-year life cycle. Large parts of New England, Minnesota, Canada, and Alaska are home to the pests. Warm fall and early winter temperatures with relatively little snow that extends the larval questing (host searching) period. In addition to moose, this tick species will feed on:Ĭonditions that favor large moose tick populations include:Īn absence of summer drought that favors egg survival.Įarly winter snow melt that increases the survival of engorged adults that drop from the host. Both larvae and nymphs are much smaller than adults. Nymphs: Nymphs have eight legs and are only slightly larger than larvae. Larvae: They have six legs and are less than 1/10 of an inch long. Males: Males are less than 1/4 inch long and have brownish mottled patterns on their backs. When fully engorged, females are much larger than the males. ![]() Females: Females are slightly larger than males, are brownish-colored, and have pronounced tan-colored shields thier backs.
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