What do domestic ticks feed on? - briefly
Domestic ticks feed on the blood of household animals, primarily dogs and cats, and may also bite humans. They attach to the host’s skin, insert their mouthparts, and ingest blood for several days.
What do domestic ticks feed on? - in detail
Domestic ticks that live in households and surrounding yards obtain nutrients exclusively from the blood of vertebrate hosts. Species most frequently encountered in domestic settings include the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and the cat tick (Ixodes catulus). Each life stage—larva, nymph, and adult—requires a single blood meal before molting or reproduction.
Primary host groups
- Mammals – dogs, cats, rodents, and humans constitute the main source of sustenance. Larvae often attach to small mammals such as mice, while nymphs and adults preferentially feed on larger hosts, particularly dogs and cats.
- Birds – passerine and ground‑dwelling birds provide occasional meals, especially for immature stages that encounter avian nests or perches.
- Reptiles and amphibians – in warmer climates, lizards and frogs may serve as incidental hosts for certain tick species, though they represent a minor proportion of the overall diet.
Stage‑specific feeding patterns
- Larva – seeks a small vertebrate, typically a rodent or bird chick; consumes 0.2–0.5 mg of blood.
- Nymph – attaches to medium‑sized mammals such as cats, dogs, or larger rodents; ingests 1–2 mg of blood.
- Adult female – requires a large host—commonly a dog, cat, or human—to acquire the protein needed for egg production; blood intake may exceed 100 mg. Adult males feed less frequently and may take smaller meals solely for survival.
Ticks do not ingest plant material or other foods; hydration is obtained from the host’s blood plasma. Ambient humidity influences questing behavior but does not replace the need for a blood meal.
Understanding these feeding relationships informs targeted control measures, such as regular host grooming, environmental acaricide application, and limiting wildlife access to domestic premises.