What is this?

[toemonkey]

Hi, we found this on our hallway floor. It seems to have 6 or 8 legs and some antenia sticking our a bean type object. The legs keep moving around and it is about 0.75cm long.

[Merrow]

looks like a sheep tick

[Tringa]

You've posted in the wrong area, but what you have is a tick.

Do you live in an area that has sheep or deer?

Do you, or someone who had been to your house recently, have a dog?

Ticks are relatives of spiders and burrow their mouthparts in the flesh and then suck the blood. When they have filled up they drop off, which is why you found it on the floor.

Deer ticks may carry Lyme disease which can be nasty. However, I think it is unlikely that you or one of your family will have been the host as you would have noticed it well before it got to this size.

If you are often out and about in areas where there are ticks its a good idea to check yourself over to see if you have acquired one. When they latch on they are generally very small, far smaller that what you found.

Have a look at this link Ticks - Lyme Disease & other tick borne diseases in Britain

Dave

[whaleomeloette]

tis a tick indeed, id chuck it far away if i were you

[toemonkey]

Thanks everyone! We have a dog so that's probably where it came from. Urgh! Think she might need Frontline then! Gross! Worst part is, cos we didn't know what it was, we put it on the windowsill, and it disappeared!! I didn't think it could move but am hoping it just rolled off down the plug hole!! Vile things, I didn't know they could get that big!! Thank you

[Merrow]

Be careful that you don't tread on a 'full' one

They start off tiny - like the size of a pin head but your one is full up!