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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
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| | Welcome to our newest member, RichardB | |  | 
09-04-2010, 01:46 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: S. Devon
Posts: 3,893
| | | Like a weevil but the antennae are wrong
Yesterday in a S. Devon wood. Around 8 to 10 mm.  
The second photo is an enlargement which I have adjusted to reveal more detail in the shadows.
When I first saw this creature crawling along a leaf I thought it was a strange spider; then after looking through my lens I changed my thoughts to one of the Mirid Bugs. Then after seeing an enlargement on my computer screen; it does resemble a weevil but I can't find anything with the antennae so far back and past the eyes.
Any suggestions? |
09-04-2010, 01:49 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: On the southern boundary of the Lake District National Park.
Posts: 4,582
| | | Re: Like a weevil but the antennae are wrong
Yes, it's a tick larva about to go "questing" on the end of a leaf for a host. |
09-04-2010, 01:55 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: S. Devon
Posts: 3,893
| | | Re: Like a weevil but the antennae are wrong
Well that is certainly something I hadn't even considered. Thanks
I certainly wouldn't want anything that size hanging on to me! |
09-04-2010, 01:58 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: On the southern boundary of the Lake District National Park.
Posts: 4,582
| | | Re: Like a weevil but the antennae are wrong
Fascinating things and lifestyle. That's only a youngster - you should see them when they're fully engorged with the hosts blood.
Some deer get heavy infestations and look like they've got small bunches of grapes hanging around their necks. My dog picks the larvae almost daily in the woods.
Ther are a number of species, some of which are host specific but the commonest is the Deer Tick IMO. |
09-04-2010, 08:59 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 10,729
| | | Re: Like a weevil but the antennae are wrong
What makes you think its a Nymph? it looks like an adult to me. |
10-04-2010, 06:43 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: S. Devon
Posts: 3,893
| | | Re: Like a weevil but the antennae are wrong
Well I have tried to do a bit of research, but found there is an American rock band called Deer Tick which were more prominent on my searches.
Finally found some information although even this was mostly US based.
But from what I can gather of the Deer Tick (Lxodes scapularis); specimens at this time of the year are more likely to be overwintered adults, with nymphs becoming more prevalent during the summer.
The area where I saw it is popular with dog walkers during the summer, although I wandered off along a rough woodland path to find an isolated area. But going by the amount of digging and animal paths leading into nearby fields, there must be badgers, and possibly foxes, in the area.
Once again, thanks for putting me onto the correct ID trail. |
10-04-2010, 07:41 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: S. Devon
Posts: 3,893
| | | Re: Like a weevil but the antennae are wrong
Having just discovered an identification site for European Ticks, I now think that the larger Sheep (Woodland) Tick Lxodes ricinus is more likely. | | |
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