What do tick nymphs feed on? - briefly
Tick nymphs obtain a single blood meal primarily from small mammals—especially rodents—and also from birds and, less frequently, reptiles. This nourishment enables them to molt into adult ticks.
What do tick nymphs feed on? - in detail
Tick nymphs, the immature stage of hard‑tick species, require a blood meal to complete development. Their hosts differ among tick families and geographic regions, but the primary sources of nourishment include:
- Small mammals such as mice, voles, shrews, and chipmunks. These animals are abundant in temperate forests and grasslands, providing frequent feeding opportunities.
- Ground‑dwelling birds, especially passerines that forage near leaf litter or low vegetation. Avian hosts supply protein‑rich blood and are commonly encountered by nymphs questing at low heights.
- Reptiles and amphibians, notably lizards and salamanders, are important for certain species (e.g., Ixodes ricinus in Mediterranean habitats). These ectothermic hosts are accessed during the warmer months when activity peaks.
- Occasionally larger mammals, including deer, foxes, or domestic pets, may be parasitized when nymphs climb higher vegetation or encounter hosts moving through understory.
Feeding behavior follows a questing pattern: nymphs climb vegetation, extend forelegs, and latch onto passing hosts. Saliva injected during attachment contains anticoagulants and immunomodulatory compounds that facilitate blood ingestion and reduce host detection. A single nymph typically consumes 0.2–0.5 ml of blood, sufficient to support molting into the adult stage.
Pathogen transmission is linked to these feeding events. Nymphs are efficient vectors for agents such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and tick‑borne encephalitis virus, because the small size of the nymphal stage often goes unnoticed, allowing prolonged attachment and higher transmission risk.