Tick

Tall grass, brushy areas, leaf litter, and woodland edges where they can wait for hosts.

Hematophagous (blood-feeding); they feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles/amphibians.

They exhibit 'questing' behavior, where they cling to vegetation with their back legs and reach out with their front legs to grab a passing host. They undergo four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

Significant health risks to humans and animals as they are vectors for diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Ehrlichiosis. They have virtually no benefits to humans, though they serve as a food source for some birds and reptiles in the ecosystem.