gopher tortoise tick adult - amblyomma tuberculatum - dorsal top view with detail showing scutum, body, legs, head. fully engorged

amblyomma animal arachnid arthropod bite blood bloodsucker borrelia bug carrier check cling danger dangerous deer disease encephalitis endemic engorged flea florida gopher gopherus illness infection infest insect ixodid large lyme medical meningitis mite nature parasite parasitic pest polyphemus sick skin small south sucker summer tick tortoise tuberculatum turtle wild wildlife