THE TICKTHE TICK

By:Omar Catchings

Aaron Vilaubi&

Eric Lara

ClassificationsClassifications

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Arachnida Order: Acari Family: Ixodidae &

Argasidae Genus: Ixodes & Otobius Species: Ixodes scapularis

& Otobius megnini

Hard Bodied

Soft Bodied

Structure-FunctionStructure-Function

. Fused cephalothorax and abdomen: allows more bracing for body

. Capitulum: enters host to withdraw food

. Chelicera: pierces the host’s skin

. Hypostome: acts as the hook to anchor the tick to the host

. Dorsal shield: exoskeleton that provides support and protection

Geographic Locations & Geographic Locations & Habitat RequirementsHabitat Requirements

Habitat requirements: Sufficiently high humidity for the ticks to maintain water balance and of a mix of animal species to act as hosts for the three tick stages, larva, nymph and adult.

Ticks can be found all over the world, but they will be more present around warm climates. Europe America West Indies Mexico Etc.

Predators and PreyPredators and Prey

Predators: Guinea Fowl are

the only known predator of ticks

Prey: Males and female

ticks suck blood from mammals (including people), as well as from birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

CompetitorsCompetitors

There are no true competitors of ticks because of their non aggression towards other parasites.

However, as far as a factor of threating tick resiliency, medicine for pets and human is the only “competing” obstacle for ticks.

Reproduction (sexual)Reproduction (sexual)

Ticks reproduce either while engorging on a host which is known as ixodidae mate on-host or they can reproduce off of a host which is known as argasidae mate off-host.

. Female ticks can lay as many as 2000 eggs at one time, or they can release their eggs in intervals. They can also hold off her oviposit for months if the weather is too cold to lay eggs.

Circulation & RespirationCirculation & Respiration

Ticks have an open circulatory system.

Ticks have book lungs.

Interesting facts:

. Ticks have four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. To be infective (capable of acquiring and transmitting infection)the tick must be able to maintain the infection through a molt. Ticksvary in their ability to do this.

What makes them unique . Even though they are extremely small,

the diseases ticks can carry areextremely dangerous to humans and can be fatal.. Lyme Disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tularemia areexamples of such diseases.

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.lawestvector.org/tickbiology.htm http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/faculty/rbkimsey/

tickbio.html http://pelotes.jea.com/AnimalFact/Arthropod/

ticks.htm http://animals.howstuffworks.com/arachnids/

tick1.htm http://meduni09.edis.at/eucalb/cms/index2.php?

option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=52 http://meduni09.edis.at/eucalb/cms/index2.php?

option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=52 http://www.emedicinehealth.com/ticks/article_em.h

tm http://tickfacts.com/tick-facts.html