This multi-year research program aims to understand the ecological drivers for the geographic variation in Lyme disease risk in eastern North America. More information is available at http://lyme-gradient.tennessee.edu
These engorged female blacklegged ticks fed on deer during the first week of November, and over the past 5 weeks have been converting the blood meal into a clutch of up to 2000 eggs. Now they are beginning to oviposit, down in the leaf litter.