How many separate blood meals does the *Ixodes pacificus* feeding strategy require to progress through its developmental cycle?
Answer
Three
The feeding strategy implemented by the Western Blacklegged Tick is intrinsically linked to its complete developmental cycle, which necessitates three distinct blood meals for the organism to transition successfully from one stage to the next. A larva must feed once, detach, molt, and become a nymph. The nymph must then feed a second time, detach, and molt into the adult stage. Finally, the adult requires a third, substantial blood meal—usually from a large host—to finalize its development and enable reproduction. This requirement for sequential feeding on different hosts at different times establishes a complex ecological pathway for potential disease amplification across various animal populations.
Related Questions
What is the scientific name for the Western Blacklegged Tick found in the western US?What hosts do *Ixodes pacificus* larvae typically seek for their initial blood meal?Which developmental stage of *Ixodes pacificus* is most frequently responsible for biting humans?What larger, higher-metabolism animals do adult *Ixodes pacificus* seek for their substantial blood meal?Why do nymphal bites represent a major transmission event for tick-borne illnesses in humans?How many separate blood meals does the *Ixodes pacificus* feeding strategy require to progress through its developmental cycle?What ecological effect results from *Ixodes pacificus* larvae feeding heavily on lizards?What animal groups constitute the broad diet range of *I. pacificus* across its lifespan?What biological mechanism allows ticks to survive long periods without feeding between necessary blood meals?Where do people who enter endemic areas often encounter *Ixodes pacificus* ticks waiting for a host?