What type of creature typically serves as the first host sought by newly hatched *Dermacentor variabilis* larvae?
Answer
A smaller creature such as a rodent or a bird
The three-host life cycle of the *Dermacentor variabilis* dictates that each stage finds a different host. When the larvae hatch from the thousands of eggs laid by the female, they are very small, often described as pinhead-sized, and must find their first blood meal. Due to their small size and lower questing height, they usually target smaller hosts. Specifically, the text indicates that the first host sought by these newly hatched larvae is typically a smaller animal, such as a bird or a rodent, before they proceed to molt into nymphs and seek slightly larger hosts.
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