Castor Bean Tick Ixodes ricinus

This European tick earned its nickname for good reason—it swells to about 11 mm when bloated with blood, roughly the size of a small legume. More importantly, these tiny vampires can transmit serious diseases including Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis, making them one of Europe's most medically significant arthropods. A single bite can carry multiple pathogens, which is why awareness in tick country is so important for human health.