Tick

Commonly found in wooded areas, tall grasses, and leaf litter. They often wait on the tips of vegetation to latch onto a passing host.

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

They exhibit 'questing' behavior, holding onto plants with back legs and reaching out with front legs to catch a host. They undergo four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

Major risks include the transmission of pathogens such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Anaplasmosis. They have no significant benefits to humans and are considered parasitic pests.