Another tiny Tick (Ixodoidea, Arachnida) - maybe a Western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus)?

            I happened to notice another tiny Tick (superfamily Ixodoidea of the Arachnida) in the woods today perched on an old grass seed head.  I was getting a few photos, when suddenly it extended its front legs.  Maybe it sensed that I was close? (San Marcos Pass, 8 March 2012)

This tick might well be a Western black-legged Tick (Ixodes pacificus), which is the principal vector of Lyme Disease on the West Coast. 

The tick was in deep shade so I used my on-camera flash for this photo.   It's just waiting (and waiting...) for a suitable host to come along - like you or me!  Ticks can spend weeks or months just waiting... like an extended moment that passes just like that!   

I got this photo near 1:1 magnification, so I can use my digital camera as an expensive micrometer.  The tick is about 550 pixels across on my 4288 pixel original photo, and my camera sensor is 23.6 mm wide.  So the size of the critter is 23.6x550/4288 = 3 mm, less than 1/8 inch.  Like I said, this critter is tiny!

Taken in: United States / California (show map)

Taken on: March 8, 2012

Tags:

Tick

Ixodoidea

Western black-legged Tick

Ixodes pacificus

San Marcos Pass

California « less

Sets appears in: • Spiders & other Arachnids • Ticks

Groups appears in: • Ticks

Camera: Nikon D300, f/11.0, 1/60 sec, 105mm (=157mm), ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D300
Aperture:	f/11.0
Exposure Time:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length:	105mm (35mm equivalent: 157mm)
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	-1/3 EV
Flash:	On, Return detected
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Manual
Light Source:	Fine Weather
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Ver.1.10
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