The American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), occurs 
throughout eastern United States, but is most abundant in coastal 
areas and in the Mississippi River Valley. The larvae and nymphs 
feed largely on rodents; the adults feed on dogs, horses, hogs, 
cattle, and many species of wild animals. Man also may be bitten, 
but he is not a preferred host (477). Unfed adults are brown, 
variously marked with white, and about 5 mm. long. Engorged 
females are bluish gray and sometimes reach a length of 12 mm. 
Females lay eggs in various places but never on the host; the 
young seek out their host after hatching. Heaviest infestations 
are usually found on vegetation along game trails, paths, and 
roadways. Adults are most abundant during spring and early 
summer in the North. After August they are usually very scarce. 
In the South, they occur throughout the year. This species trans- 
mits Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, both serious 
diseases of man. It also transmits anaplamosis, a disease of cattle. 
The black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, occurs along the 
Atlantic Coast. The larvae and nymphs feed on rodents and rep- 
tiles, and the adults feed on deer, cattle, sheep, dogs, and other 
large animals. People are also bitten. This species has long mouth 
parts and inflicts a very painful bite. Infestations are usually 
found along game trails, paths, and roadways where the ticks 
wait on vegetation for people or animals to come by. Adults are 
most prevalent during fall and early winter. This species trans- 
mits anaplamosis to cattle and piroplasmosis to dogs (726). 
Order SCORPIONIDEA 
Scorpions 
Scorpions are fairly common in eastern United States, espe- 
cially in the South. However, because they are active only at night 
and usually remain hidden during the day, they are seldom seen. 
Indoors, they usually hide in such places as closets, attics, folded 
blankets, shoes, and papers. Scorpions vary considerably in size, 
ranging from about 14 to 714 inches in length. The abdomen is 
divided into a large anterior portion of seven segments and a 
long, narrow tail-like posterior portion of five segments. The 
latter ends in a vesicle which bears a poisonous sting. When a 
scorpion runs, it holds it large claw-like pedialps forward, and 
the posterior end, bearing the sting, is usually curved upward. 
Scorpions are capable of inflicting painful and sometimes fatal 
stings. Very young and very old people appear to be the most 
vulnerable. Scorpions’ food consists of a wide variety of animal 
life including other scorpions, spiders, flies, beetles, cockroaches, 
grasshoppers, crickets, termites, centipedes, and earthworms. A 
common species in many parts of eastern United States is Centu- 
roides vittatus (Say), the so-called striped scorpion. This is a 
fairly small species, being only about 58 to 60 mm. long. Its sting 
results in a sharp pain which usually lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. 
Stings inflicted from late March to early May, however, may re- 
main painful for several hours (15). 
Scorpions may be trapped during dry seasons by spreading wet 
burlap bags on the ground in infested areas. 
