Tick

Natural Habitat

Grassy and wooded areas, tall brush, often in places frequented by mammals and birds. They attach to hosts for feeding.

Diet & Feeding

Blood (hematophagous) of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians.

Behavior Patterns

Ticks are obligate parasites that typically lie in wait on vegetation (questing) for a suitable host to pass by. Once attached, they embed their mouthparts into the skin and feed for several days. They have a complex life cycle involving larval, nymphal, and adult stages, each requiring a blood meal.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include transmission of various diseases to humans and animals, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis. They generally pose no direct benefits to humans, but play a role in their ecosystems as parasites and a food source for some predators.

Identified on: 10/31/2025