Ticks

Ticks are small animals that belong to the group of animals known as arachnids. Arachnids also include spiders and scorpions. Ticks are different from these other arachnids in that they are parasites. This means they must feed on the fluids of other animals, including humans.

When a tick attaches to a host, it often carries diseases. When they bite into the bodies of animals, the diseases they carry can be passed to the victims. In some cases, these diseases can be deadly. Some ticks even have poisonous bites. This poison has even been known to cause paralysis in humans.

Because ticks carry disease, it is important to remove one, if found, as quickly as possible. Removal is slightly tricky, and the person attempting to remove the parasite must be careful to take out the entire tick and not leave the creature’s head inside the victim. Two well-known diseases that can be transferred from ticks to humans are Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Both diseases are extremely dangerous to those infected.

Like many other animals, ticks lay eggs. The eggs are usually found in dead leaves or other debris. When they hatch, the ticks are born with six legs. These tiny creatures will attach themselves to any animal that passes within their reach. They will stay and gorge themselves on blood and eventually change into eight-legged creatures, going through one more stage until they become adults.