What difference exists between the leg count of Ixodes pacificus nymphs and adults?
Answer
Nymphs have six legs, whereas adults have eight legs.
The structure of the legs changes significantly as the Western Blacklegged Tick develops through its life stages. Immature ticks, specifically the larvae and nymphs, are characterized by possessing six legs, which is typical for ticks in the early instars. However, upon molting into the adult stage, both sexes of the *Ixodes* genus ticks, including *I. pacificus*, develop eight legs. This difference in leg count is a fundamental characteristic used in identifying the developmental stage of a specimen, with the shift from six to eight legs marking the transition to maturity.
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