TickMe Maine field prototype

Snap the tick. Know the risk. Take the right next step.

A mobile-first tick ID and guidance app for the moment people actually need help.

Built around one promise: identify the tick, explain Lyme relevance in plain language, and give clear next actions without overclaiming certainty.

Fast in the field Designed for one-handed mobile use
Safe on uncertainty Low-confidence results trigger retake guidance

Prototype flow

1. Capture or upload a tick

Photo quality assistant

  • Place the tick on a white surface
  • Add a coin or ruler if you can
  • Use side lighting to show body detail

Prototype flow

2. Likely match and Maine-specific guidance

Likely match

Blacklegged tick

Nymph • Likely female

88% confidence

Why the app thinks this

Dark shield, narrow mouthparts, and small rounded body shape suggest a blacklegged tick nymph.

Sex / stage clues

The body looks small relative to the legs and lacks the full dorsal shield pattern commonly seen in adult males.

How worried should I be?

Monitor closely

In Maine, blacklegged tick nymphs are a higher-concern tick type because they can be easy to miss and are associated with Lyme disease transmission risk.

This is not a medical diagnosis. If the tick was attached, symptoms develop, or you are unsure, contact a clinician or veterinarian.

What to do now

  • Remove the tick carefully with fine-tipped tweezers.
  • Wash the area and your hands with soap and water.
  • Save this tick record and monitor for symptoms over the next few weeks.

Field note

If the photo is blurry or the tick is damaged, the app should fall back to “cannot determine” and ask for a better image.

Prototype flow

3. Save the encounter

My Tick Log

3 recent encounters

Apr 18 • Camden, Maine

Dog tick adult male Found crawling on pant leg • Lower concern

Apr 12 • Yarmouth, Maine

Blacklegged tick nymph Attached to person • Monitor closely

Apr 05 • Brunswick, Maine

Uncertain photo Retake requested • Add scale reference

Future-ready differentiators

What makes this more than a picture classifier

Risk, not just taxonomy

Translate species and life stage into plain-language concern levels and next steps.

Explain the estimate

Show the body markers used for species, stage, and sex so the result feels accountable.

Useful history

Store encounters, locations, body areas, pet profiles, and reminder follow-ups.

Maine context

Keep guidance geographically sharp instead of trying to be a generic insect app on day one.