What is the life cycle of ticks ?
Ticks may live for a long time (up to 4 years). It develops through alternative free and parasitic periods corresponding to each life stage. Larvae hatch and begin their host quest by climbing vegetation and waiting for an animal to approach. They attach to the host, take a blood meal then detach. They moult into nymphs in the field. Nymphs infest a host in the same way, climbing vegetation and waiting for an animal to approach, attaching, taking a blood meal then detaching. They moult into adults in the field. The adults begin their host quest by climbing vegetation and waiting for an animal to approach, attach, take a blood meal (for females) and mate, then detach. Females lay eggs in the field.