What do Ixodes ticks feed on? - briefly
Ixodes species are obligate hematophages that obtain blood meals from vertebrate hosts, including rodents, birds, reptiles, deer, and humans. Each life stage (larva, nymph, adult) preferentially selects hosts suited to its size and ecological niche.
What do Ixodes ticks feed on? - in detail
Ixodes ticks require blood meals at each active stage of their life cycle. The larva, nymph, and adult all attach to vertebrate hosts and ingest plasma, red blood cells, and serum proteins to complete development and reproduction.
- Larval stage – typically feeds on small mammals such as field mice (Peromyscus spp.), voles, and shrews. Occasionally, ground‑dwelling birds serve as hosts, especially when rodent populations are low.
- Nymphal stage – expands the host range to include medium‑sized mammals (e.g., raccoons, foxes), ground‑nesting birds, and occasionally reptiles. Nymphs are most active in late spring and early summer, coinciding with peak host activity.
- Adult stage – predominantly targets larger mammals. The primary host for adult females is the white‑tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in North America; in Europe, red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) are common. Adult males may feed opportunistically on the same species or on other large ungulates, including livestock.
Host selection is influenced by environmental conditions, host abundance, and the tick’s questing behavior. Ixodes species are capable of feeding on a broad taxonomic spectrum, but each life stage shows a preference for hosts that provide sufficient blood volume and accessibility. Feeding periods range from 2–5 days for larvae, 3–7 days for nymphs, and up to 10 days for adult females, during which the tick remains attached, engorging until detachment.
Blood meals also facilitate the acquisition and transmission of pathogens. Species such as Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes ricinus acquire Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti from reservoir hosts during larval or nymphal feeding, later delivering them to subsequent hosts during later stages.
In summary, Ixodes ticks progress through three blood‑feeding stages, each targeting specific groups of vertebrates—small mammals and ground birds for larvae, a broader array of medium hosts for nymphs, and large ungulates for adults—while their feeding duration and host interactions underpin both development and disease ecology.