Where do soft ticks typically digest and molt after rapid feeding?
Answer
In the safety of a burrow or nest site
A key behavioral difference separating soft ticks (Argasidae) from hard ticks involves their post-feeding behavior. Soft ticks are characterized by feeding relatively quickly and then detaching from the host. Once detached, they retreat to the secure environment of a host's burrow or nest site where they can undergo digestion, molt to the next life stage, or lay eggs without the immediate risk of host defense mechanisms. This contrasts sharply with many hard ticks, which remain attached for extended periods while engorging.
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