This newly recognized disease was first noted in 1975 at Old Lyme, Connecticut, and was first seen in California in 1978. The tick which is known to transmit Lyme disease has been found in many areas of Ventura County. Heaviest concentrations of ticks have been in the humid coastal areas and along horse and hiking trails. If you would like to see a map for locations of where this tick is found in Ventura County click here . The spirochete causing Lyme Disease was first isolated from this tick in 1984.
Adults feed on large mammals, including deer, dogs, and humans.
All stages feed by embedding their mouth-parts into the skin of a host and taking a blood meal. Larval and nymphal ticks acquire spirochetes from the blood of infected mammals as they feed. In California, a low percentage of the ticks tested are infected with the Lyme disease spirochete. Adult ticks are most commonly found from December through June, during the period of the year when humidity is usually high. Both are teardrop shaped.