Email Print Share

All Images


News Release 11-032

Numbers of Lyme Disease-Carrying Ticks Plummet in Absence of Western Lizards

California areas without lizards had significant drop in tick populations

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

Photo of a Western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis.

Western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) can be found with dozens of ticks attached.

Credit: Anand Varma


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (63 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Photo of a researcher looking for ticks on a male Western fence lizard.

A researcher looks for ticks; male lizards have blue throats and bellies to attract females.

Credit: Anand Varma


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (57 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Photo of a specialized fold in the neck of a lizard which accomodates ticks.

Some lizards accommodate ticks with a specialized fold in their necks: "mite pockets."

Credit: Anand Varma


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (76 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Photo of an adult tick on a thumbnail.

This adult tick (Ixodes sp.) can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Credit: Anand Varma


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (51 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Photo of the head of an alligator lizard.

Other reptiles, such as this alligator lizard (Elgaria sp.), have Lyme-disease-carrying ticks.

Credit: Anand Varma


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (68 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.