Tick

Grassy areas, woodlands, and leaf litter; they transfer to hosts that brush past vegetation.

Strictly hematophagous; they feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles/amphibians.

They exhibit 'questing' behavior by climbing to the tips of vegetation and waiting with front legs outstretched to latch onto a passing host. Once attached, they burrow their mouthparts into the skin to feed for several days.

Significant health risks to humans and animals as vectors for diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Babesiosis. They provide no known direct benefits to humans, though they are a food source for some wildlife like opossums and certain birds.