Life Cycle of a Tick

Ticks are parasitic arachnids that feed on the blood of humans and animals. Since their development is directly affected by the hosts they attach to, it is very important to understand their life cycle.

  1. Identification

    • Ticks have three pairs of legs when they are still in the immature stages of development, and four pairs of legs once they reach adulthood. Depending on their classification, they may or may not have a scutum, which is otherwise known as a hard shell. Ixodid ticks do have a scutum, while Argasid ticks do not. Ticks, regardless of their classification, do not have wings.

    Egg to Larvae

    • Female ticks that have fully matured lay their eggs on the ground, usually in the spring. When the temperature and moisture levels rise, the eggs hatch and thus become known as larvae. The larvae are about the size of a period. The first host for the larvae is usually small, such as a rodent. The larvae feed off the blood of this host for a couple of days and then fall off when finished.

    Larvae to Nymph

    • After the larva falls off of its first host, it molts and becomes a nymph. This process usually takes place during the late summer. As the weather becomes colder, the nymphs become inactive. They resume their feeding period in the spring.

    Nymph to Adult

    • When the spring comes the nymphs look for their second host, which is usually a human or a larger animal such as a dog or a cat. The nymphs feed off their host for a few days, then once again fall off when they are well fed, molt and become an adult.

    Mating

    • During the fall months, the adult ticks (both male and female) will continue to feed off hosts. They will mate on these hosts as well, after which point the males will die. The females will survive through the winter, lay their eggs once warmer weather comes again, and then die, thus completing the 2-year cycle.