How do Ixodes pacificus ticks typically encounter a host when questing?
Answer
Waiting on low vegetation for a host to brush against them
Ticks, including *I. pacificus*, do not possess the ability to jump from trees or propel themselves toward a host; instead, they utilize a behavior known as 'questing.' Questing involves the tick positioning itself on low-lying vegetation, typically remaining less than three feet off the ground. From this elevated perch, they extend their forelegs and wait patiently for a suitable host, such as a passing deer, rodent, or human, to brush into the vegetation. This action causes the tick to make contact, allowing it to grasp the host and begin searching for a suitable attachment site on the skin, making low brush and leaf litter the critical zones for potential encounters.
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