Developmental Cycle

All ticks have 4 stages, the embryonated egg and the three active stages, the larva, one or more nymphal stages, and the adult.

Sexual dimorphism is evident only in the adult stage; reference to a male or female automatically implies that the individual is an adult.

In most species, each active stage seeks a host, feeds, and drops off to develop in the natural environment (3-host life cycle).