Comments for
Tiny red bug (Black-legged Tick )

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Tick?
by: Anonymous

I agree with the earlier posts, it's not an insect, it's some sort of arachnid because it has 8 legs, insects only have 6. It looks very much like a tick of some sort. If it's a deer tick, it could possibly carry lime-disease or other form of tick fever.
Thanks
by: Jason

Hi all,

Thank you for your help. After doing some research, I found that this is a Clover Mite. Harmless.

I think they were on a picnic bench at work.

Thanks again!

-Jason
Black-legged Tick
by: Moni

Jason
Tho at first glance this may be a mite...and tho you have the magnification you do not give the actual size of the insect. It is not a bed bug.
But, of more concern is that it may be a deer or also called black-legged tick. Your description fits.
Here are some photos of the various ticks. http://www.oes.org/html/how_2_identify_different_ticks.html
I would take the specimen to your county extension office to have them send it in for positive ID. Black-legged ticks carry Lyme disease and that is not something you want!
If it is a blacklegged tick and it bit you, it takes 24-72 hours of feeding to infect you with lyme disease. A few weeks of an antibiotic can control the disease if caught in the very early stages of infection.
Here is information from NY about ticks - http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ehs/ehstick.shtml
Itching may be from just finding a bug on you but it is best to get positive ID on this critter.
Martha's Vineyard is known as a hot spot for Lyme infected ticks, as is much of the NE US.
Another possibility
by: Jane B

Take a look on line at spider mites also.

The itching might be just psychological.
Be ready to scratch
by: Stuart

Your picture looks like a portrait of an adult chigger, which is pretty much harmless in and of itself. The larval stage, however bites and will cause the itchy, red welts you are describing.

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