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Deer TickIxodes scapularis

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Deer Tick profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 61 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Ixodes scapularis (black legged tick). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysWaits on a plant for a passing host to brush by, then feeds for days.
The source sayswaiting on vegetation or the ground until its host brushes against the ticks position, generally catching its legs, allowing it to grasp on and continue its feeding
The page saysWaits on a plant for a passing host to brush by, then feeds for days.
The source saysIn each of the life cycle states, Ixodes scapularis feeds only once, for 3-5 days.
The page sayseastern North America
The source saysThe geographic range of Ixodes scapularis, the deer tick or blacklegged tick, consists of North America as a whole
The page saysBlood: mice and other small mammals when young, deer for adult females
The source saysLarval ticks of the Ixodes scapularis feed once on the blood of white-footed mice, or other small mammals.
The page saysdeer for adult females
The source saysfemale adult ticks feed on the blood of larger mammals, such as deer
The page saysAmbushes a passing host, then feeds for days while its new, flexible outer shell helps it swell
The source saysThis "ambushing" is done by waiting on vegetation or the ground until its host brushes against the ticks position
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysIUCN Red List Not EvaluatedNote: stats.conservationStatus. The prefetch found no Red List assessment for Ixodes scapularis (GBIF has no category, no Crossref assessment DOI), so no IUCN reference is cited; ADW's page states Not Evaluated.
The page saysis an arachnid
The source saysClass Arachnida
The page saysAdults and nymphs (the stage between larva and adult) both have eight legs.
The source saysBoth sexes have eight legs that are black.
The page saysAdults and nymphs (the stage between larva and adult) both have eight legs.
The source saysLike the adult, the nymph has four pairs of dark legs
The page saysAn adult is about 3 mm long
The source saysIxodes scapularis is approximately 3 mm in length.
The page saysa nymph is 1 to 2 mm
The source saysis smaller, measuring at about 1-2 mm in length
The page saysIt waits on vegetation or on the ground until a host brushes past, generally catching it by the legs.
The source sayswaiting on vegetation or the ground until its host brushes against the ticks position, generally catching its legs, allowing it to grasp on
The page saysThis is a three-host tick: larva, nymph and adult each need a blood meal from a host.
The source saysIxodes scapularis is a three-host tick, meaning that each stage of development reattaches to a host.
The page saysLarvae feed mostly on white-footed mice.
The source saysfeed on a wide variety of mammals and birds, but primarily on white-footed mice
The page saysAdult females feed on a white-tailed deer for five to seven days. Males rarely feed at all.
The source saysAdult female ticks feed upon their definitive host, the white-tailed deer, for five to seven days while the male tick rarely feeds at all.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web puts its lifespan in the wild at about two years.
The source saysIxodes scapularis lives approximately two years in the wild.
The page saysMales die after mating, and females die after laying their eggs, typically on the forest floor.
The source saysThe male Ixodes scapularis dies after it has completed mating with one or more females, and the female dies after laying eggs.
The page sayslaying their eggs, typically on the forest floor
The source saysengorged adult females typically lay eggs on the forest floor
The page saysMate-finding is largely run by pheromones, chemical signals that draw ticks together.
The source saysMate-finding and courtship behavior in Ixodes scapularis is largely regulated by pheromones, chemicals produced by one organism that attract other organisms.
The page saysfrom the eastern United States west towards Texas and north into Minnesota and southeastern Canada
The source saysThis includes the eastern coast of the United States, westward towards Texas, and northward into Minnesota. These ticks are also found in southeastern Canada
The page saysit carries Borrelia burgdorferi, the cause of Lyme disease
The source saysI. scapularis is also a vector of Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi
The page saysNo. Animal Diversity Web files it in the class Arachnida
The source saysClass Arachnida
The page saysAdults measure roughly 3 mm.
The source saysIxodes scapularis is approximately 3 mm in length.
The page saysRoughly two years in the wild, according to Animal Diversity Web.
The source saysIxodes scapularis lives approximately two years in the wild.
The page saysMales rarely feed at all.
The source saysthe male tick rarely feeds at all
The page saysLarvae and nymphs feed on white-footed mice and other small mammals, and adult females feed on larger mammals such as deer.
The source saysnymphal ticks continue to feed on the blood of white-footed mice and other small mammals
The page saysNymphs, the stage before adulthood, are smaller at around 1 to 2 mm
The source saysis smaller, measuring at about 1-2 mm in length
The page saysThree hosts, three meals
The source saysIxodes scapularis is a three-host tick, meaning that each stage of development reattaches to a host.
The page saysTwo years, then breed and die
The source saysIxodes scapularis lives approximately two years in the wild.
The page saysLarvae and nymphs then drop to the ground to molt
The source saysengorged larvae leave their first host and drop to the ground
The page saysLarvae and nymphs then drop to the ground to molt
The source saysengorged nymphs detach and drop to the forest floor where they molt into an adult
The page saysIt does not chase anything.
The source saysTo find hosts Ixodes scapularis uses an "ambushing" approach.
The page saysboth the adult and the nymph walk on four pairs of legs
The source saysLike the adult, the nymph has four pairs of dark legs
The page saysBlood, and only blood.
The source sayssanguivore sanguivore eats body fluids Animal Foods blood
The page saysTwo years, then breed and die
The source saysTherefore, Ixodes scapularis lives until reproduction.
The page saysAmbush from the vegetation
The source saysThis "ambushing" is done by waiting on vegetation or the ground
The page saysadult females feed on a deer for five to seven days
The source saysAdult female ticks feed upon their definitive host, the white-tailed deer, for five to seven days while the male tick rarely feeds at all.Note: vibe.reason; same quote as the body sentence "Adult females feed on a white-tailed deer for five to seven days. Males rarely f"

Source
02

Gulia-Nuss et al. 2016

Gulia-Nuss et al. (2016). Genomic insights into the Ixodes scapularis tick vector of Lyme disease. Nature Communications.

The page saysAmbushes a passing host, then feeds for days while its new, flexible outer shell helps it swell
The source saysThe synthesis of flexible new cuticle is a unique feature that permits the engorgement of ixodid ticks during feeding
The page saysScientists call this waiting game "questing".
The source sayslocate hosts by ‘questing' from vegetation
The page saysAs it feeds, the tick builds new, flexible cuticle (its outer shell), and that stretchy layer lets it swell up with blood.
The source saysThe synthesis of flexible new cuticle is a unique feature that permits the engorgement of ixodid ticks during feeding
The page saysIn the north-east and upper Midwest of the United States, where adults feed mostly on deer, the life cycle runs over two years.
The source sayswhere I. scapularis populations feed predominantly on deer as adults and complete the life cycle over 2 years
The page saysIts genome is 2.1 billion base pairs of DNA, which is large and packed with repeated sequences.
The source saysWe describe the 2.1 Gbp nuclear genome of the tick, Ixodes scapularis (Say)Note: Gbp = billion base pairs
The page saysIts genome is 2.1 billion base pairs of DNA, which is large and packed with repeated sequences.
The source saysThe large genome reflects accumulation of repetitive DNA
The page saysThis is a three-host tick: larva, nymph and adult each need a blood meal from a host.
The source says'Three-host' ticks such as I. scapularis require a host blood meal at each life stage.
The page saysA genome study gives the same span for the full life cycle in the north-east and upper Midwest of the United States.
The source sayswhere I. scapularis populations feed predominantly on deer as adults and complete the life cycle over 2 years
The page saysA meal lasts several days.
The source saysFeeding occurs over several days
The page saysnew, flexible cuticle lets them swell with blood
The source saysThe synthesis of flexible new cuticle is a unique feature that permits the engorgement of ixodid ticks during feedingNote: vibe.reason; same quote as the body sentence "As it feeds, the tick builds new, flexible cuticle (its outer shell), and that s"

Source
03

Sonenshine 2018

Sonenshine (2018). Range Expansion of Tick Disease Vectors in North America: Implications for Spread of Tick-Borne Disease. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

The page saysHumid deciduous forest and brushy habitat in eastern North America
The source saysI. scapularis is adapted to forest and brushy habitats, especially deciduous forests where sufficient ground cover provides very humid microenvironments.
The page saysit is extremely sensitive to drying out, and it suits deciduous forest with enough ground cover to keep the air very humid.
The source saysI. scapularis is extremely sensitive to desiccation, a factor limiting the duration of its above ground questing activity.
The page saysit is extremely sensitive to drying out, and it suits deciduous forest with enough ground cover to keep the air very humid.
The source saysespecially deciduous forests where sufficient ground cover provides very humid microenvironments
The page saysDuring the 20th century it spread through most of the eastern United States and into southern Canada, following forest regrowth and the return of white-tailed deer.
The source saysI. scapularis has largely spread throughout most of the eastern United States and into southern Canada during the 20th century following the reforestation and reintroduction and proliferation of white-tailed deer
The page saysA 2018 review cited an advance of about 46 km a year in Ontario.
The source saysappears to be advancing rapidly, e.g., at ~46 km/year in Ontario
The page saysFollowing the deer north
The source saysinto southern Canada during the 20th century following the reforestation and reintroduction and proliferation of white-tailed deer

Source
04

Eisen & Eisen 2018

Eisen & Eisen (2018). The Blacklegged Tick, Ixodes scapularis : An Increasing Public Health Concern. Trends in Parasitology.

The page saysA 2018 review calls it a vector of seven human pathogens in the United States.
The source saysIn the United States, the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is a vector of seven human pathogens

Source
05

Hill & MacDonald

Hill & MacDonald. The Biology and Medical Importance of Ticks in Indiana (E-243-W). Purdue Extension, Department of Entomology.

The page saysabout the size of a poppy seed
The source saysNymphs are approximately the size of a poppy seed
The page saysOne guide lists hosts from 57 bird species, 41 mammal species and 11 lizard species.
The source saysSpecimens have been collected on 57 species of birds, 41 species of mammals, and 11 species of lizards.
The page saysIts host list is very wide.
The source saysThe black-legged tick has a very wide host range.
The page saysPurdue Extension compares them to a poppy seed
The source saysNymphs are approximately the size of a poppy seed

Source
06

Boulanger et al. 2025

Boulanger et al. (2025). Ticks and tick-borne diseases in the northern hemisphere affecting humans. Frontiers in Microbiology.

The page saysdangerLevel: Deadly
The source sayslineage II (deer tick virus) mainly transmitted by I. scapularisNote: stats.dangerLevel, task #1254: Deadly is a capability, read as for the tsetse fly and yellow fever mosquito: the bite can pass on Powassan virus
The page saysdangerLevel: Deadly
The source saysPowassan virus can cause severe disease, including inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).Note: stats.dangerLevel, task #1254; the same paragraph gives a mortality rate of 15%

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.