How does a female tick lay eggs? - briefly
After engorging on a host, the female detaches, finds a sheltered site, and releases thousands of eggs encased in a silk‑like coating. The eggs incubate for several weeks before hatching into larvae.
How does a female tick lay eggs? - in detail
A mature female tick completes a blood meal, expands her abdomen, and initiates oviposition. After engorgement, she seeks a protected microhabitat—leaf litter, soil, or crevices—where humidity remains high (70‑85 %). She anchors herself using her legs and releases a silk-like secretion from the opisthosomal gland to secure the site.
The egg‑laying sequence proceeds as follows:
- Glandular activation: Hormonal signals trigger the reproductive tract to contract, moving oocytes into the oviducts.
- Egg formation: Each oocyte receives a chorion layer, forming a resilient shell capable of withstanding desiccation.
- Spermatophore utilization: Stored sperm from the previous mating fertilizes the eggs as they pass through the spermatheca.
- Egg deposition: The female extrudes eggs through the genital opening in a continuous stream, typically laying 1,000–5,000 eggs depending on species and blood volume ingested.
- Protective coating: A thin layer of waxy secretion coats the egg mass, reducing water loss.
- Final positioning: The tick arranges the clutch in a compact, rounded mass, often burying it partially in substrate to maintain moisture.
After the clutch is complete, the female dies, and the eggs incubate for 2‑4 weeks. Temperature and humidity dictate embryonic development; optimal conditions accelerate hatching, while extreme dryness arrests the process. Upon emergence, larvae climb vegetation and await a host, continuing the life cycle.