Common Name: Ticks
Scientific Name: IXODIDA

Tick is a common name for small arachnids that are ectoparasites (meaning they live on the surface of skin), living on the blood of mammals, birds and sometime amphibians. They are blood-feeding parasites that are found in tall grass and shrubs where they will wait until a host (animal that it feeds from) passes, so that it can attach itself to the animal. Occasionally, they jump onto a human’s leg though; crawling up the body, looking for a place to attach. Ticks can only be transported by clinging onto host animals. They do not jump or fly, but they can drop down from their perch to fall onto a passing animal. But some species of ticks quickly stalk the animal by running very fast.

If there are certain changes in temperature and day length, this will affect the tick’s decision to attach to a host. Ticks can sense the heat emitted from a nearby host, and they will jump off from the host when the tick is full, which is after a few days. Because they have a needle-like formation on their mouth, it enables them to keep themselves still while they are feeding. Once the tick is done eating, they attempt to remove the needle-like penetrator, but when they do it is more likely to tear the tick in half, rather than pull it out. I wouldn’t like to have that for a mouth!

Ticks can be found in most forests throughout the world and they are common in areas where there are deer or horse foot-tracks. They carry many diseases, and some ticks when bitten by one, can lead to illnesses including paralysis and also cause many severe allergic reactions. There are many different colours for ticks, with around 900 species worldwide. Although there are not many species, they are very widespread and there is a huge population.

There are more ticks in the summer and in the spring, and less amounts in autumn and winter. They have a 4-stage life cycle: and egg, larvae, nymph and adult. The nymph and adult forms are able to attach to humans and other animals and transmit diseases. Although a tick bite is not painful, it can infect the host while it is feeding. But it is lucky that almost all of ticks are not infected. If you are going into a grassy area and don’t want to be bitten by a tick, it’s best to just wear bright clothing so that you can see if ticks are on you.