Tick

Blood-feeding arachnids

Ticks are small arachnids, part of the order Ixodida, which are ectoparasites that live by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. Ticks are vectors of a number of diseases that affect both humans and animals.

Morphology and Life Cycle

Ticks are divided into two major families: Ixodidae (hard ticks) and Argasidae (soft ticks). A third family, Nuttalliellidae, contains only a single species, Nuttalliella namaqua, found in southern Africa.

Ticks have four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. After hatching from the egg, ticks must consume blood at every stage to survive. Hard ticks have a hard shield, called a scutum, and they tend to attach to their hosts for long periods. Soft ticks lack this scutum and generally feed for shorter periods.

Habitat and Behavior

Ticks are found worldwide, but they tend to thrive in warm, humid climates. They are often found in wooded or grassy areas. Ticks detect their hosts through body heat, moisture, and vibrations, and they latch onto their hosts using specialized mouthparts.

Medical Importance

Ticks are known vectors of several serious diseases. The most notable tick-borne diseases include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Babesiosis. These diseases can have significant health impacts on humans and animals, making tick control and prevention important.

Prevention and Control

Preventing tick bites involves avoiding areas where ticks are prevalent, using insect repellents, wearing protective clothing, and performing regular tick checks after potential exposure. Pets should be treated with tick prevention products, and yards can be managed to reduce tick habitats.

Related pages

• Lyme disease
• Arachnida
• Parasitism
• Vector (epidemiology)