At their next blood meal, they may then transmit the acquired pathogen to the new host they are feeding on. Larvae, nymphs, and adults all feed on the blood of vertebrate hosts and are capable of becoming infected with a pathogen while feeding. Ticks go through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
These tick species have similar life-cycles and habitats, but each transmits a unique set of pathogens and inhabits different geographical regions. The most notorious tick species that come into contact with humans are the deer tick, American dog tick, lone star tick, brown dog tick, and Western blacklegged tick. Other species are commonplace and can be found inhabiting areas frequented by humans and their pets. Many species feed solely on wild animals or are found in very specific habitats and are rarely encountered by humans. There are hundreds of species of ticks throughout North America.
