Tick

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

Hematophagous (blood-feeders), consuming blood from mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

They exhibit 'questing' behavior, clinging to vegetation with back legs while reaching out with front legs to latch onto passing hosts. They undergo four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

High risk as vectors for various diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Ehrlichiosis. They have no significant benefits to humans but serve as a food source for some animals like opossums and poultry.