Ticks

parasites · arachnids · ancient · blood-feeders

Tiny vampire bugs. Ticks are so small you might miss them, usually about the size of a sesame seed. But after they suck blood from a mammal, bird, or reptile, they can puff up to many times their normal size, looking like a swollen grape.

Arachnid cousins. Ticks belong to the same family as spiders and mites. They are not insects with six legs, but arachnids with eight legs like their relatives.

Ancient survivors. Ticks have been around for over 100 million years, with fossils from the time of dinosaurs. They love warm, humid places around the world and have stuck around because they are really good at what they do.

External parasites. Unlike parasites that live inside their hosts, ticks stay on the outside of your skin while they feed. They attach to mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians to get the blood they need to survive.