Who does a tick bite? - briefly
Ticks attach to and feed on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and occasionally amphibians, including humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife. They preferentially target warm‑blooded hosts that support their developmental stages.
Who does a tick bite? - in detail
Ticks attach to a wide range of vertebrate hosts to obtain blood meals required for development. Their host selection varies with tick species, life stage, and environmental conditions.
Adult females of hard‑tick genera such as Ixodes and Dermacentor commonly feed on large mammals, including deer, elk, moose, cattle, and domestic dogs. These hosts provide the substantial blood volume needed for egg production. Adult males typically attach to the same species but may feed for shorter periods, primarily to locate mates.
Nymphal ticks, which are smaller and less conspicuous, prefer medium‑sized mammals like rodents, foxes, and raccoons. Many disease‑transmitting pathogens, such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), are acquired by nymphs during these feedings because their hosts often harbor the microorganisms.
Larval ticks, the first active stage after hatching, usually feed on small mammals and ground‑dwelling birds. Common hosts include white‑footed mice, shrews, chipmunks, and passerine species. Some larvae may also parasitize reptiles or amphibians, particularly in regions where these ectotherms dominate the ground fauna.
Humans are incidental hosts for all tick stages. Exposure occurs when people enter tick‑infested habitats—forests, grasslands, or suburban yards with dense vegetation. The likelihood of a bite increases with activities that involve prolonged contact with leaf litter or low vegetation, such as hiking, hunting, or gardening.
In addition to mammals and birds, certain tick species target reptiles and amphibians. For example, Amblyomma cajennense frequently feeds on lizards and turtles, while Haemaphysalis larvae have been recorded on frogs and toads.
Summary of typical hosts by tick stage:
- Larvae: small mammals (e.g., mice, shrews), ground‑dwelling birds, some reptiles/amphibians
- Nymphs: medium mammals (e.g., raccoons, foxes), larger birds, occasional reptiles
- Adults: large mammals (e.g., deer, cattle, dogs), humans (all stages)
Understanding these host preferences aids in assessing disease risk, planning preventive measures, and targeting control efforts to interrupt the tick life cycle.