Ticks are arachnids who are closely related to the spider. Ticks feed on the blood of mammals, and have a short life span that is divided into four parts: egg, larva, nymph and adult.
Egg
After feeding, female ticks drop off of the animal they have fed on to lay eggs. These eggs hatch into larvae by the summer.
Larva
The larvae feed on small mammals during the summer months and then remain dormant until the following spring.
Nymph
When the spring arrives, the larvae become nymphs. These nymphs feed on small mammals, such as rodents, through the spring and summer.
Adult
Nymphs molt into adults in the fall and complete their cycle. The typical life cycle of a tick is two years.
Lyme Disease
Nymphs and larvae can become infected with Lyme disease when they feed on small mammals. The nymphs then transmit the disease through their regular feeding on various mammals. A specific carrier of Lyme disease is the white-footed mouse.
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