Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) surveillance

Surveillance for Ixodes scapularis and pathogens found in this tick species in the United States [PDF – 37 pages] Print only

To access the data used for this dashboard go to data sets.

Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) lifecycle

Ixodes scapularis typically lays eggs in the spring. These hatch into larva in summer. The following spring, nymphs feed and then molt into adults later in the fall. Adults females will seek a blood meal and lay eggs the following spring, completing the lifecycle.

The lifecycle of blacklegged (Ixodes scapularis) ticks generally lasts at least two years. During this time, they go through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. After the eggs hatch, the ticks must have a blood meal at every stage to survive. Blacklegged ticks can feed from mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The ticks need a new host at each stage of their life.