Brown recluse and Mediterranean recluse spiders Order: Araneae Family: Sicariidae Genus and species: Loxosceles reclusa G & M and L. rufescens G & M The brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, is variable in color, but usually a dark and dull grayish brown...

Arkansas chocolate tarantula Order: Araneae Family: Theraphosidae Genus and species: Aphonopelma hentzi (Girard) Tarantulas are among the largest and most iconic spiders in North America. Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana form the eastern limit of tarantula...

Trapdoor spider Order: Araneae Family: Ctenizidae Genus and species: Ummidia sp. Trapdoor spiders live in silk-lined, underground burrows.  In the United States, they are widespread in the East and in the Southwest north to Colorado. Ummidia is the most speciose genus...

Blacklegged Tick Order: Acari Family: Ixodidae Genus and species: Ixodes scapularis Say Adult blacklegged ticks are about the size and shape of a sesame seed when not fed, increasing to about 0.13 – 0.25" (3 - 6 mm) when engorged with a blood meal. They are dark...

Chicken mite Order: Acari Family: Dermanyssidae Genus and species: Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer) Chicken mites are ectoparasites of poultry and other birds. They will also bite humans, and they sometimes enter homes and other buildings where there are roosting birds....

Striped bark scorpion Order: Scorpiones Family: Buthidae Genus and species: Centruroides vittatus (Say) The only scorpion known to occur in Arkansas is the common striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus. Adults are about 2 1/2" long, and they have 2 broad, dark,...

Follicle mite Order: Acari Family: Demodicidae Genus and species: Demodex folliculorum (Simon) Follicle mites live exclusively in human hair follicles. They are minute, about 0.3 millimeters long, worm-like, and they have rudimentary legs. They can occur anywhere on...

Chiggers Order: Acari Family: Trombiculidae Genus and species: Eutrombicula alfreddugesi (Oudemans), and others Chiggers are minute and nearly invisible arthropods that are often responsible for swellings of the skin accompanied by intense itching. They are about 0.02...