How are ticks born? - briefly
Adult female ticks lay thousands of eggs after feeding, and the eggs hatch into six-legged larvae that seek a host to begin their life cycle.
How are ticks born? - in detail
Ticks reproduce through oviparous development. Adult females locate a suitable host, engorge on blood, and subsequently detach to find a protected microhabitat—often leaf litter, soil, or cracks in bark. Within this shelter the female deposits a clutch of eggs; a single tick can lay from several hundred to several thousand eggs, depending on species and nutritional status.
The egg stage lasts from a few weeks to several months, governed by temperature and humidity. Viable eggs hatch into six-legged larvae, commonly called seed ticks. These larvae are active seekers of a first host, typically small mammals, birds, or reptiles. After attaching and feeding for several days, the larva detaches, drops to the ground, and molts into an eight-legged nymph.
Nymphs undergo a second blood meal on a larger host, often the same species class as the larval host but sometimes a different one. Following engorgement, the nymph drops off, finds a sheltered site, and molts into an adult. Adult ticks, especially females, require a final, substantial blood meal to complete egg development. After feeding, females detach, locate a protected environment, and commence the oviposition cycle anew.
Key factors influencing each stage include:
- Temperature: Accelerates development; optimal ranges differ among species.
- Relative humidity: Maintains egg viability and prevents desiccation of off‑host stages.
- Host availability: Determines success of larval and nymphal feeding periods.
- Photoperiod: Can cue seasonal diapause, delaying development during unfavorable conditions.
The entire lifecycle, from egg to egg‑laying adult, may span months to several years, with variations linked to climate, host density, and species‑specific biology.