Common Ticks Found In Missouri, Kansas, And Oklahoma

Size: Adults are small—about 1/8 inch long unfed; nymphs are roughly poppy‑seed sized.

Appearance: Dark brown to black legs; females have an orange‑brown body with a dark shield, while males are darker overall.

Habitat: Prefers wooded and brushy areas with leaf litter, especially where deer and small mammals live. Present in parts of Missouri and the broader Midwest.

Bites & Concerns: Blacklegged ticks are known vectors of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and other tick‑borne illnesses in many regions. Prompt removal of attached ticks reduces infection risk.

Prevention Tips:

• Keep leaf litter, brush, and tall weeds away from the yard.
• Create a “tick‑safe zone” with short grass and clean play areas.

Size: Adult American dog ticks are about 3/16 inch long unfed; females enlarge significantly when engorged with blood.

Appearance: Oval, flattened body before feeding; brown with patterned whitish or gray markings on the back. Males are more mottled; females have a darker body with a pale shield near the head.

Habitat: Common in grassy fields, roadsides, and along trails where dogs, wildlife, and people pass by. Frequently encountered in the Midwest and around the edges of woods, especially in spring and early summer.

Bites & Concerns: American dog ticks can transmit pathogens that cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia in people and pets. They often attach to dogs, but they will bite humans as well.

Prevention Tips:

• Keep grass and weeds trimmed around the home.
• Check pets and family after time in tall grass or along trails.
• Use veterinarian‑recommended tick preventives on dogs.