Lone Star Tick - Amblyomma americanum

Nymphal lone star tick

This is definately a nymphal Amblyomma americanum tick. This species' range extends along the east coast as far north as Maine

… Jon Oliver, 16 May, 2008 - 10:03pm

Thanks

Appreciate the help

… John R. Maxwell, 16 May, 2008 - 10:13pm

Black-legged tick

Ixodes scapularis......one Lyme carrying sucker!

… Danny Mims, 15 May, 2008 - 3:36pm

Hmmmm...

The other Ixodes scapularis in the guide have black around the "head and shoulders" and brown on the body. These appear to be the reverse, brown around the "head and shoulders" and black on the body. This also seems rounder instead of oval.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/40503/bgimage

… John R. Maxwell, 15 May, 2008 - 9:52pm

Hmmmm...

Seems to maybe match Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)

better than Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis)

… John R. Maxwell, 16 May, 2008 - 2:11pm

Black-legged/Deer Tick

Lone Star Tick is found generally Southeast....New Jersey is a bit North, but never say impossible. I have picked Deer ticks off various parts of my body in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado that were nearly black. They darken as they fill up. Also, the males seem to be rounder than females, and naturally darker. With a 50 yr history of tick pickin' in the outdoors, Black-legged Tick would be my best guess for what you've got. However, I'm never too old to learn, though!

… Danny Mims, 16 May, 2008 - 3:34pm