How to Take Tick Pics

Reminder: Keep the tick in a plastic container after submission and place in the refrigerator to preserve. Once you submit your ticks, you can use your personalized Tick ID to conveniently track the status of your submission here....

Submit one or two pictures of the tick - try to get a close-up and focused picture.Place the tick on a light colored background.Place the tick next to a reference item like a ruler, coin, or pin.

Below are professional photographs of ticks to show examples of size reference. We do not expect your photographs to have this level of detail.

tick next to dime
Use of a coin as size reference (photo credit Jim Occi, PhD).
tick next to nail
Use of a pin and ruler as size reference (photo credit Jim Occi, PhD).

We understand everyone will have different devices ranging in camera quality. Here, we demonstrate on an older generation iPhone how to take photos of the ticks you may find.

Unfed Tick

Point the camera straight down and keep the camera in focus while getting as close to the tick as possible. Concentrate on capturing the markings on the scutum and the mouthparts on the top side of the tick. Below are examples

unfed tick
Photo credits Kayla Vuoso
unfed tick
Photo credits Kayla Vuoso
Blood-fed Tick

Ticks come in many shapes and sizes! When they just had a blood meal or are feeding, they become swollen. Their size depends on how long they have fed.

unfed vs fed
Unfed vs. blood-fed lone star ticks (photo credit Jim Occi, PhD).

If the tick looks like the larger ones above, use the instructions below for taking an engorged tick pic for the tick submission:

Submit a focused .JPG of the scutum and mouthparts of the tick.Place the tick on a light colored background.
engorged tick
Photo credits Kayla Vuoso
engorged tick
Photo credits Kayla Vuoso
Bad Photo Gallery

Below are examples of photos that should be avoided as submissions.

bad tick
This tick is not in a light-colored background so it's hard to identify its features (photo credit Kayla Vuoso).
bad tick
The subject is too far away to recognize clearly as a tick. Photo credits Kayla Vuoso
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