Content Updated: March 17, 2026
Hard-bodied vs. soft-bodied ticks
There are over 850 types of ticks worldwide. 1 These tiny yet significant arachnids are found in most parts of the world, from dense forests to arid deserts. Each tick species has adapted to its environment, playing a role in its local ecosystem. In the United States alone, approximately 90 different ticks have been identified, with the Deer tick and American dog tick being the most common.1 Learn about each tick species and when it’s time for professional tick control.
While different types of ticks can vary in size, color, and body type, they all share some key identifying features. All ticks are arachnids, eight-legged relatives of spiders. They have a distinct body in two sections, unlike insects with three. They lack wings and rely on finding a host to feed on blood. Their most defining feature is their mouthparts, designed to pierce the skin and anchor them for extended feeding. Regardless of the type of tick, they can pose health risks by transmitting various diseases to both humans and animals.
Hard-bodied ticks have a distinctive scutum that gives them a harder, more shield-like appearance, along with visible mouthparts that extend outward. They typically require a longer feeding period and can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In contrast, soft-bodied ticks lack this scutum, resulting in a more rounded and leathery appearance with hidden mouthparts. They tend to feed quickly and often inhabit nests or burrows, where they can transmit diseases such as Tick-borne Relapsing Fever.
Size: Less than â…› of an inch
Color: Reddish-brown body with dark legs
Habitat: Wooded, brushy areas where deer and small rodents live
Location: Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, and North-Central states
Disease: Known to transmit Lyme disease
Size: ¼-½ inches long
Color: Reddish brown with white markings on the shield or legs
Habitat: Wooded areas, tall grass, brush
Location: Southeastern United States, from Texas to Florida, north to Virginia
Disease: Can transmit Rickettsia parkeri
Size: ⅛-⅜ inches long
Color: Reddish brown
Habitat: Wooded areas, especially with leaf litter
Location: Western United States and Canada
Disease: Can transmit Lyme disease, Babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Anaplasmosis
No matter the type of tick, prevention is crucial for staying healthy and avoiding tick-borne diseases. Taking precautions to prevent tick bites is essential to avoid a variety of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Dengue virus, and ehrlichiosis.
To help prevent ticks in your yard, maintain it by keeping the lawn mowed, removing leaf litter, and creating a barrier with wood chips or gravel between your lawn and wooded areas to restrict tick migration into recreational areas. When outdoors, wear long layers, limit exposed skin, and wear light colors to easily spot ticks. Make sure to check yourself for ticks after outdoor activities like hiking or gardening.
If you discover a tick on your body, clothing, or pet, it's important to properly remove it right away. Additionally, if you experience any symptoms after a bite, you should seek medical attention immediately.
If you find a tick within your home or have a tick-infested yard, Terminix can help. Attempting to tackle a tick infestation on your own can be challenging, given the resilient nature of these pests and their propensity to spread diseases. Our technicians are well-versed in dealing with multiple types of ticks, using treatments designed to effectively remove these pests and prevent future occurrences.
Contact a Terminix expert to start protecting yourself from different types of ticks today!
1Information on the number of tick species worldwide and in the United States provided by PestWorld.
