28/05/2026
Could you pick cattle tick out of a lineup, or would an imposter slip through? 🕷️
The cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) might look similar to bush ticks or paralysis ticks, but a few key features make all the difference when it comes to identifying and treating them.
Here’s your quick ID guide:
Cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus)
• Pale cream to amber legs
• Wide space between first pair of legs and mouthparts
• Small mouthparts
• Males have a small dorsal spike
Ornate Kangaroo Tick/Bush tick (Amblyomma triguttatum)
• Legs dark brown with white bands at joints
• First pair of legs sit close to the mouthparts
• Large mouthparts
Paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus)
• Very large mouthparts
• First pair of legs situated very close to mouthparts
• Front and rear legs reddish brown and middle pairs are pale.
These small differences matter, because cattle ticks impact productivity, spread tick fever, and require specific treatment strategies.
💡 Pro tip: If you see a tick on livestock with pale cream to amber coloured legs, set well back from small mouthparts it’s time to review your tick control plan.
Have you checked your herd recently?
Find out more about cattle tick here: https://info.futurebeef.com.au/3ZHvJKN
Biosecurity Queensland
Queensland Agriculture
