Where does a tick live and what does it feed on? - briefly
Ticks are found in grassy, brushy, and forested habitats where they wait on vegetation for passing hosts. They are blood‑feeding ectoparasites that attach to mammals, birds, and occasionally reptiles.
Where does a tick live and what does it feed on? - in detail
Ticks are ectoparasites that occupy a range of environments where their hosts are present. Typical habitats include tall grasses, leaf litter, forest understory, shrub layers, and the borders of wetlands. In these micro‑habitats, humidity remains high (generally above 80 % relative humidity) and temperature stays within a moderate range, conditions that prevent desiccation. Ticks also exploit animal burrows, rodent nests, and the fur of mammals to maintain moisture. In urban settings, they can be found in parks, gardens, and recreational trails that provide suitable vegetation and shade.
Feeding behavior is obligate; ticks must obtain blood at each active life stage—larva, nymph, and adult. Their diet consists of the plasma and cellular components of vertebrate blood. Host species vary by tick type:
- Small mammals (e.g., mice, voles) serve as primary hosts for larvae and often for nymphs.
- Medium‑sized mammals (e.g., rabbits, foxes, deer) provide blood meals for nymphs and adults.
- Birds act as occasional hosts, especially for immature stages, enabling dispersal over long distances.
- Reptiles and amphibians are occasional hosts for certain hard‑tick species in warmer regions.
- Humans can be incidental hosts for all active stages, particularly in areas where wildlife and human activity intersect.
Ticks attach by inserting their hypostome, a barbed feeding apparatus, into the host’s skin. Saliva injected during the bite contains anticoagulants, anti‑inflammatory agents, and immunomodulators that facilitate prolonged feeding, which may last from several hours to several days depending on the stage. After engorgement, the tick detaches, drops to the ground, and proceeds to molt or lay eggs, completing its life cycle.