What do ticks feed on and what is their lifespan? - briefly
Ticks consume the blood of vertebrates such as mammals, birds, and reptiles. Their lifespan varies from several months in many species to up to three years in hard‑ticks, depending on host availability and environmental conditions.
What do ticks feed on and what is their lifespan? - in detail
Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods that obtain nutrition exclusively from the blood of vertebrate hosts. Each developmental stage—larva, nymph, and adult—requires a single blood meal before molting to the next stage or, in the case of adult females, before egg production.
Typical hosts include:
- Mammals such as rodents, deer, cattle, and humans
- Birds, especially ground‑dwelling species
- Reptiles and amphibians, mainly for certain ixodid species
Blood provides proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and micronutrients essential for growth, molting, and reproduction. The volume of a single meal varies with tick size and species, ranging from a few microliters in larvae to several hundred microliters in large adult females.
Lifespan depends on species, climate, and feeding success. General patterns are:
- Egg stage: 1–2 weeks under optimal humidity
- Larva to nymph: several weeks to months, contingent on locating a host
- Nymph to adult: comparable duration, often extending through a year
- Adult females: survive 2–3 months after the final blood meal, during which they lay thousands of eggs
- Unfed individuals may endure multiple years, particularly in cool, humid environments
Overall, most tick species complete their life cycle within 2–3 years, while some can persist for up to 5 years without feeding, resuming activity when a suitable host becomes available.