Where do ticks live and how do they reproduce? - briefly
Ticks are found in moist vegetation such as grasslands, shrubs, and forests where they await passing hosts like mammals, birds, and reptiles. After a blood meal, a female deposits thousands of eggs; the hatched larvae feed, molt into nymphs, feed again, and finally mature into adults that also require a blood meal before reproducing.
Where do ticks live and how do they reproduce? - in detail
Ticks are arachnids that occupy a wide range of terrestrial ecosystems. They are most abundant in humid, vegetated environments where hosts are readily available. Typical locations include forest understories, tall grasses, shrub layers, leaf litter, and mossy banks. Domestic premises such as barns, kennels, and yards can also harbor populations, especially where wildlife or pets frequent. In arid zones, ticks persist in microhabitats that retain moisture, for example beneath stones or in rodent burrows.
The reproductive cycle proceeds through four distinct stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. After a female deposits thousands of eggs on the ground, the eggs hatch into six‑legged larvae. Each larva must locate a vertebrate host to obtain a blood meal; attachment usually lasts several days. Following engorgement, the larva drops off, molts, and becomes an eight‑legged nymph. The nymph repeats the host‑seeking and feeding process, then molts into an adult. Adult males and females typically feed on larger mammals; mating occurs on the host, after which the female detaches to lay eggs. Egg production varies by species, ranging from a few hundred to over ten thousand per female. Developmental timing depends on temperature and humidity; in temperate regions the entire cycle may span one to three years, while in warmer climates it can be completed within a single season.