Types of Ticks, Mites & Other Arachnids: 7 Common Species
Eight legs as adults, no antennae and no wings. This guide covers the 7 ticks, mites & other arachnids people find most often.
Quick list
How to narrow it down
Narrow it down with three quick checks. Count the legs: insects have six, spiders and ticks have eight, and centipedes and millipedes have many more. Check for wings, even folded ones. Then compare size against a coin: a US penny is 19 mm across. Our bug identifier tool does this filtering for you.
The 7 bugs
American Dog Tick
American Dog TickDermacentor variabilisA brown tick with ornate white-gray markings on its shield, common along trails, roadsides and grassy fields. It readily feeds on dogs and people.
Tell-tale sign: Brown body with silvery-white mottling on the shield. Risk: American dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Arizona Bark Scorpion
Arizona Bark ScorpionCentruroides sculpturatusA slender, light tan scorpion of the desert Southwest and the most venomous scorpion in North America. It climbs walls and ceilings and often hides in shoes, bedding and clothing.
Tell-tale sign: Thin, light yellowish-tan body and slender pincers. Risk: Bark scorpion stings cause severe pain and numbness and can be dangerous for young children and older adults; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 after a sting.
Blacklegged Tick
Blacklegged TickIxodes scapularisAlso called the deer tick, a small tick with a dark shield and, in adult females, a reddish-orange rear body. It waits on grass and brush to latch onto passing people and animals.
Tell-tale sign: Dark black legs and shield. Risk: Blacklegged ticks transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis; remove attached ticks promptly.
Lone Star Tick
Lone Star TickAmblyomma americanumAn aggressive, reddish-brown tick of the Southeast and East; adult females have a single white spot on the back. All life stages bite people.
Tell-tale sign: Single white dot on the back of adult females. Risk: Lone star tick bites are linked to ehrlichiosis and alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy.
Chigger
ChiggerTrombiculidae familyThe nearly invisible red larva of a harvest mite that attaches to skin in grassy, brushy areas. Chiggers feed on skin cells, not blood, and cause intensely itchy red bumps.
Tell-tale sign: Microscopic red or orange specks, barely visible. Risk: Chigger bites itch for days, but in the US chiggers don't transmit disease.
Clover Mite
Clover MiteBryobia praetiosaA tiny, red-brown mite that crawls by the thousands onto sunny walls and windowsills in spring and fall. Crushed mites leave red stains.
Tell-tale sign: Pinhead-size red to brown dots moving on walls. Risk: Clover mites don't bite people or damage homes; they're a staining nuisance.
Harvestman
HarvestmanOpiliones orderOften called daddy longlegs, a long-legged arachnid with a single fused, oval body and no venom glands. It scavenges on dead insects, fungi and plant matter.
Tell-tale sign: One round body section instead of two. Risk: Harvestmen have no venom and no silk; they are completely harmless.
Which ones should you worry about?
5 of the 7 bugs in this guide can bite or sting. The ones to take seriously are American dog tick, Arizona bark scorpion, blacklegged tick and lone star tick. The rest are harmless or simply a nuisance.
Comparison at a glance
| American Dog Tick | Arizona Bark Scorpion | Blacklegged Tick | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Ticks, Mites & Other Arachnids | Ticks, Mites & Other Arachnids | Ticks, Mites & Other Arachnids |
| Scientific name | Dermacentor variabilis | Centruroides sculpturatus | Ixodes scapularis |
| Size | 3–5 mm | 50–80 mm | 1–5 mm |
| Colors | Brown, White and Gray | Tan and Yellow | Black, Red and Brown |
| Legs | 8 legs | 8 legs | 8 legs |
| Wings | No | No | No |
| Bites or stings | Bites | Stings | Bites |
| Risk | Health risk | Health risk | Health risk |
| Key feature | Brown body with silvery-white mottling on the shield | Thin, light yellowish-tan body and slender pincers | Dark black legs and shield |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common one?
Among the bugs in this guide, the American dog tick and Arizona bark scorpion are the ones people ask about most.
Which of these are dangerous?
American Dog Tick, Arizona Bark Scorpion, Blacklegged Tick and Lone Star Tick can be medically significant.
How can I identify a bug I found?
Use the free bug identifier tool: choose the number of legs, wings, main color, size and where you found it, and it will list the closest matches.