There are two main categories of ticks: the Argasidae (soft ticks) and Ixodidae (hard Protrude from the tick body and are often incorrectly called the head of the tick. Head is lacking, however, mouthparts of varying lengths (depending on the species) Ticks can be distinguishedįrom insects because their bodies are not divided into distinct segments. Ticks are more closely related to spiders than insects. Adults and nymphs have four legs,įigure 1: General life cycle of ticks. Larvae are sometimes called seed ticks and are slightly smaller Ticks have four “developmental” or life cycle stages known as the egg, larva, nymphĪnd adult (Figure 1). In animals, the loss of bloodĬan cause secondary anemia and sometimes death. Swelling, inflamed condition of the skin) on the host. Tick bites can cause dermatitis (an itching, Paralysis, toxicosis and allergic reactions. Ticks transmit a greater diversity of disease-causing organisms to wildlife, domesticatedĪnimals and humans than any other vector arthropod.
