Tick

Tall grass, shrubs, leaf litter, and woodpiles; often residing in areas with high humidity and proximity to host animals.

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and sometimes amphibians.

They exhibit 'questing' behavior by climbing to the tips of vegetation and extending their legs to latch onto passing hosts. They undergo a complex life cycle consisting of egg, larva, nymph, and adult stages.

High risk to humans and animals as vectors for serious diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Anaplasmosis. They provide little ecological benefit beyond serving as a food source for some birds and reptiles.