Overview

Brown Dog ticks have a world-wide distribution, and can be found throughout the United States, although they are encountered more frequently in the southern tier of states. They occur predominantly in and around human settlements and infest homes, animal pens, and dog kennels, often causing high levels of infestation both on dogs and in homes. These ticks can spend their entire life cycle indoors. Under optimal conditions, brown dog ticks complete their life cycle in as few as three months. All life stages of this tick can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever rickettsia (Rickettsia rickettsia) to dogs, and rarely to humans. Both nymphal and adult stages can transmit the agents of canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) and canine babesiosis (Babesia canis vogeli and Babesia gibsoni-like) to dogs. Controlling brown dog tick infestations can be difficult and usually requires a four-step process: treating the pets, treating the house, treating the yard, and sanitizing the house by focusing on vacuuming. This process may take several treatments and take several months to eradicate an infestation. 

A New England Journal of Medicine research report linked Brown Dog ticks to the transmission of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Field Notes

This tick is most at home IN YOUR HOME, especially if there is an un(tick)protected canine present. Adult males and females can be found at all times of the year and can survive for 18 months without feeding. They prefer to feed on dogs but will feed on other mammals, and occasionally humans. Males only feed for short periods of time before wandering, even from host to host to find a mate but females feed for about a week before becoming engorged. After rapidly (7-14 days) digesting the blood meal, female brown dog ticks start laying eggs and can lay up to 4,000 eggs. The eggs are often laid on top of kennels, on ledges, or in cracks and crevices in or around a house. Larvae hatch from eggs in 2 to 5 weeks. Read more about this house invader.