-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Chelicerates (Subphylum Chelicerata)

-Arachnids (Class Arachnida)

-Mites and Ticks (Subclass Acari)

-Superorder (Parasitiformes)

-Ticks (Order Ixodida)

-Hardbacked Ticks (Family Ixodidae)

-Genus Haemaphysalis

-Rabbit Tick (Haemaphysalis leporispalustris)

Widely distributed throughout the western hemisphere. Adult and nympal ticks present year-round although most common in the spring. Larval ticks are found spring, summer and fall. Adults feed exclusively on rabbits. Larvae and nymphs tend to feed on rodents and ground frequenting birds. it rarely bites humans.