Tags: Arachnid.
Dermacentor andersoni commonly known as the Rocky Mountain wood tick is a species of tick.It can cause tick paralysis.Diagnostic features:Larva only has 3 pairs of legs.Nymph has 4 pairs.Single pair of spiracular openings (stigmata) close to the coxae (leg bases or segments) of the 4th pair of legs (except in larvae) Terminal capitulum (mouthparts) visible from above in all stages except the egg of course.A large sclerite called the Scutum present dorsally behind the capitulum.The scutum almost entirely covers the back of the male but only partly covers the back of the female.Eyes if present are on the scutum.Sexual dimorphism in size and colour is frequent.
