Can you help me identify this pest crawling around my run and yard?

[RaesChicks]

I have searched the internet and cannot come up with a conclusive answer. I need help determining if this is a mite or a tick. It squishes easily between two fingers. But does bite as I found out before I smacked it and got orange bug goo smeared on my arm. I don’t have very much first hand experience with ticks but I was always told they had hard bodies and wouldn’t squish so easily. Can you help me figure this out?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

It kinda looks like a spider to me. Ticks are hard to kill, except for when they're bloated (either full of blood or eggs). For a mite, it looks way too big, as mites are very small (typically photographed with a microscope), and can be hard to kill as well. Where did you find this and what State are you in?

 

[RaesChicks]

I’ve had them crawling on the wood in my run, I killed one on my arm while I was turning over the bedding, this one was on my shovel. When I google lensed it it came up spider but didn’t match the grown pictures that the web provided. I thought possibly a spider mite. I never truly considered an actual spider.

 

[Brooks_]

I'm leaning towards a type of tick.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I’ve had them crawling on the wood in my run, I killed one on my arm while I was turning over the bedding, this one was on my shovel. When I google lensed it it came up spider but didn’t match the grown pictures that the web provided. I thought possibly a spider mite. I never truly considered an actual spider.

So something like this:

https://www.thespruce.com/controlling-spider-mites-3269371

https://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/biological-control-of-spider-mites-in-tomatoes/

 

[RaesChicks]

I'm leaning towards a type of tick.

What makes you lean towards tick?

 

[Australorpfamily]

I would have said spider mite or spider sling, although spider slings rarely bite. And there are some mites you can visibly see with naked eye


I should clarify, slider slings can bite but aren't necessarily strong enough. We've always taught if it has a mouth if CAN bite lol

 

[RaesChicks]

So something like this:

View attachment 3784672

View attachment 3784674

https://www.thespruce.com/controlling-spider-mites-3269371

https://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/biological-control-of-spider-mites-in-tomatoes/

Hmm I guess the biting would rule out spider mites. The bug was smaller than a quinoa seed. But didn’t seem to have hairs.

 

[Brooks_]

What makes you lean towards tick?

Seemed to small for spider and too large for mite, but that could've been optics.

 

[RaesChicks]

My husband said he’s seen them around the yard. We have never dealt with ticks in the yard in 10 years.