Ticks are parasitic arachnids. They are blood feeders and are of the same class as spiders. The oldest known tick fossils are from the cretaceous period, around 100 million years old! When it is in search for a host, it will lie in wait in a position known as "questing". They cling to leaves and grasses by their third and fourth pairs of
Ticks are parasitic arachnids. They are blood feeders and are of the same class as spiders. The oldest known tick fossils are from the cretaceous period, around 100 million years old! When it is in search for a host, it will lie in wait in a position known as "questing". They cling to leaves and grasses by their third and fourth pairs of legs, and with the first pair of legs outstretched, waiting to grasp and climb on to a passing host. When feeding, the tick grasps the host's skin and cuts into the surface. It then inserts an anticoagulant to prevent clotting. A tick's mouthparts are retractable and often confused with its head.They are extremely tough and resilient. They can survive in a near vacuum for as long as half an hour. They can withstand temperatures just above 0 °F for more than two hours and can survive 20 °F for at least two weeks. Ticks have been found in Antarctica, where they feed on penguins.
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