She is maneuvering against an adversary she can barely see: the black-legged tick, commonly called the deer tick, carrier of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

In North America, the black-legged tick or deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the main vector on the east coast.

On the West Coast of the United States, the main vector is the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus).

Western black-legged ticks .

Briefly, the black-legged tick (formerly known as the deer tick) is seeking a host at this time of year.

As primary hosts for adult black-legged ticks they are major factors in the spread of Lyme disease.

"But in the Northeast, black-legged ticks feed primarily on white-footed mice."

In the U.S., the Western black-legged tick and the deer tick can carry Lyme disease bacteria.

Its proper name is the black-legged tick.

Further studies showed that the disease was caused by a bite from a particular black-legged tick.