22:29
@M__ It's probably no surprise that I agree with @theforestecologist, but said nothing in the thread. I'm not sure it's an ixodes tick either, and (as was said) the answer is heavy on the not-a-bedbug topic and light on it's-a-tick evidence. Unlike you or theforestecologist, I have not studied insects methodically. However, I had a small farmette in the middle of 28 acres of woods which happened to be in one of the very worst hotspots for Lyme Disease on the East coast.
Having picked ticks or both genders and every instar off my animals, myself and my family, having contracted (I kid you not; I wish it weren't true) Lyme 8 times (the first was by far the worst) in 26 years, all my family and non-feline/avian mammals had it as well to a lesser extent, and having the first goat ever to be diagnosed with Lyme disease (according t6o Texas A&M), I'm also able to say I'm very familiar with the species. It does not look like a tick to me, either.
I stumbled upon this room by accident. Otherwise I'd have kept my skepticism to myself. (I also had anaplasmosis before my Infectious Disease specialist knew what it was. All I knew was that my neutrophil count was too low to permit me to work with sick people for a while. I figured it out when one of my dogs had the same illness.) It was live and learn, literally, having that farmette in the woods.
Merry Christmas to you both, and happy new year! I hope it's a great one!
Discussion on answer by M__: Help in …
Discussion on answer by M__: Help in …