Hard Tick (fragment)

Woodlands, tall grasses, and leaf litter where they wait for hosts.

Hematophagous; they feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, birds, and occasionally reptiles.

They exhibit questing behavior, climbing plants to wait for a host to brush by. They undergo four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

High risk as vectors for diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Anaplasmosis. They provide no significant benefits to humans.