Scientific name: Dermacentor variabilis

Average size: About 0.9 mm

Average life expectancy: 1-3 years

Average weight: Less than a quarter of a pound

Habitat: Any place where livestock and pets are found or in wooded or grassy areas in the U.S.

Diet: Blood, mainly from dogs, but also other mammals.

Extra facts: A tick, when engorged, can grow from 200-600 times their original amount if they have the capacity to hold the blood.