Under a low magnification of 49X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted a dorsal view of an unidentified male tick (Dermacentor sp.) found upon a cat in the suburbs of Decatur, Georgia, which measured approximately 3.5mm from its mandibulae to the distal abdominal margin. Note that the entire dorsum of this tick?s abdomen is covered by its tough ?scutum?, or ?shield?, categorizing it as a male, whereas, in female Ixodid-species ticks, the scutum only partially covers the dorsal abdo