What do ticks eat and how do they feed? - briefly
Ticks are obligate hematophagous arachnids that consume the blood of vertebrate hosts. They attach with a barbed hypostome, secrete anticoagulant saliva, and draw plasma and cellular components through a feeding tube until fully engorged.
What do ticks eat and how do they feed? - in detail
Ticks are obligate hematophages; they obtain nutrients exclusively from the blood of vertebrate hosts. Their diet varies among life stages and species. Larvae and nymphs typically feed on small mammals, birds, or reptiles, whereas adult females commonly attach to larger mammals such as deer, livestock, or humans. Males may feed intermittently or not at all, focusing on locating mates rather than sustained blood intake.
The feeding process unfolds in a series of coordinated steps:
- Host detection – sensory organs on the forelegs detect carbon dioxide, heat, and movement, guiding the tick toward a potential host.
- Attachment – the hypostome, a barbed feeding tube, pierces the skin. Surrounding cement glands secrete a proteinaceous glue that secures the mouthparts.
- Saliva injection – tick saliva contains anticoagulants, vasodilators, and immunomodulatory compounds that prevent clotting, maintain blood flow, and suppress host immune responses.
- Blood ingestion – a muscular pharynx draws blood into the midgut, where it is stored in a distended digestive tract. Engorgement can increase body mass by several hundred times.
- Detachment – after the blood meal, the cement weakens, and the tick disengages, dropping off the host to molt or lay eggs.
During the blood meal, ticks concentrate nutrients such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. The midgut epithelium digests these components, and excess water is excreted through the anus, producing a characteristic “tick drop” of fluid. The engorged female uses the acquired resources to develop eggs; a single female can lay thousands of eggs after a single feeding event.
Ticks can also acquire pathogens during feeding. When a tick inserts its hypostome, it may transmit microorganisms present in its salivary glands or acquire new agents from the host’s blood, facilitating the spread of diseases such as Lyme borreliosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick‑borne encephalitis.
In summary, ticks rely on a highly specialized blood‑feeding apparatus, progressing through detection, attachment, saliva‑mediated modulation, ingestion, and detachment. Their diet is strictly hematophagous, with each life stage targeting hosts appropriate to its size and ecological niche. «Ticks are the only arthropods that have evolved a permanent blood‑feeding lifestyle, and their feeding strategy reflects this unique adaptation».