What Do Ticks Eat?
Ticks feed exclusively on blood, a diet known as hematophagy. They rely on blood meals for survival, development, and reproduction. Unlike insects that nibble plants or scavenge, ticks must find a living host—mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian—to sustain each stage of their life cycle.
Dive Deeper
- Do All Ticks Eat Blood?
- What Hosts Do Ticks Prefer?
- How Do Ticks Feed on Blood?
- How Often Do Ticks Eat?
- What Happens After They Feed?
- 🎯 Final Thoughts
- 📚 References
🩸 Do All Ticks Eat Blood?
Yes—every life stage of the tick (except the egg) must consume blood to grow or reproduce:
- Larvae feed once before molting into nymphs
- Nymphs feed once before becoming adults
- Adult females must feed to lay eggs
- Adult males feed less or not at all (depending on species)
Ticks do not eat plant matter, dead tissue, or other animals—they are obligate blood feeders.
🐾 What Hosts Do Ticks Prefer?
Ticks are not picky eaters, but many show host preferences:
| Tick Species | Common Hosts |
|---|---|
| Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) | Deer, rodents, humans |
| Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) | Deer, dogs, humans |
| Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) | Dogs (indoor and outdoor) |
| American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) | Dogs, raccoons, humans |
Ticks detect hosts using:
- Carbon dioxide
- Body heat
- Movement and scent cues
📊 Ticks can sense CO₂ from hosts over 30 feet (9 meters) away [1].
🧬 How Do Ticks Feed on Blood?
Ticks have a specialized feeding apparatus called a hypostome—a barbed, needle-like structure that anchors them into the skin. The feeding process involves:
- Piercing the skin using sharp mouthparts
- Secreting anticoagulants to prevent clotting
- Ingesting blood slowly—often over 3–10 days
- Swelling massively in size (some up to 100× their original weight)
| Life Stage | Feeding Duration |
|---|---|
| Larva | 2–3 days |
| Nymph | 3–5 days |
| Adult female | 7–10 days |
📊 A fully engorged adult female tick can ingest over 200 times her body weight in blood [2].
⏰ How Often Do Ticks Eat?
Ticks feed only once per stage:
- Larvae: 1 blood meal
- Nymphs: 1 blood meal
- Adult females: 1 large blood meal before laying eggs
- Adult males: Often feed briefly or not at all
Once they finish feeding, ticks drop off the host and hide while they molt, digest, or reproduce.
🥚 What Happens After They Feed?
- Larvae and nymphs molt to the next life stage
- Adult females lay eggs (2,000–6,000 at once)
- Males usually die shortly after mating
- Females also die after laying eggs
Ticks need multiple hosts in their lifetime—usually different animals at each stage.
🎯 Final Thoughts
So, what do ticks eat? Only one thing: blood. Every stage of their life after hatching requires a blood meal from a living host. Ticks have evolved to be stealthy, patient, and highly efficient parasites, capable of feeding undetected for days. Their simple, singular diet drives their entire complex life cycle—and poses serious health risks to both humans and animals.
📚 References
- Sonenshine, D. E. (1991). Biology of Ticks. Oxford University Press.
- CDC (2023). How ticks spread disease. Link
- Eisen, L., & Lane, R. S. (2002). Vectors of human disease in North America. Annual Review of Entomology.