Soft Ticks
NuisanceWhat it is
Ticks in the family Argasidae with a leathery body and no hard dorsal shield. They often live in nests, roosts, burrows, or cracks near hosts and typically feed for shorter periods than hard ticks.
How to recognize it
A tick with a leathery body and no hard shield on its back. It feeds quickly, often at night.
Where you will find it
Nests, roosts, burrows, and cracks near its hosts.
Why it matters
Soft ticks feed for shorter periods than hard ticks and are less common around homes.
What to do
- Check people and pets for bites or attached pests after being outdoors or traveling.
- Wash and dry bedding and clothing on high heat, and reduce clutter around sleeping areas.
- Do not move bedding or furniture between rooms, since that can spread pests.
- Contact a licensed pest professional before trying home remedies, which can scatter pests.
When to call a professional
- You find bites, dark spots, or live pests in bedding or furniture.
- Pets keep getting fleas or ticks.
- Anyone develops a rash, fever, or illness after a bite (see a doctor).
Related pests
American Dog Tick
A hard tick with white markings on a brown body, common in tall grass and brushy edges. It can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, but not Lyme disease. Check people and pets after time outdoors and...
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Bat Bugs
Blood-feeding insects closely related to bed bugs that primarily parasitize bats. They can wander into occupied rooms when bats leave a structure and may occasionally bite people.
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Bed Bugs
Small, flat, reddish-brown insects that feed on human blood at night and hide in mattress seams, bed frames and furniture. They do not spread disease, but they are hard to eliminate and spread easily. Early...
Read more →Deer Tick
A small hard tick, also called the blacklegged tick, that spreads Lyme disease and other infections. Nymphs are tiny and easy to miss. Check daily, remove ticks promptly, and see a doctor if symptoms follow a bite.
Read more →This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Pests vary by region and situation, and an on-site inspection is the reliable way to know what you have.