Overview

All ticks have 4 stages, the embryonated egg and the three active stages, the larva, 1 or more nymphal stages, and the adult.
Sexual dimorphism is evident only in the adult stage; reference to a male or female automatically implies that the individual is an adult.

In most species, each active stage seeks a host, feeds, and drops off to develop in the natural environment (3-host life cycle).

Life cycles Ixodidae

In the Ixodidae, development is accelerated, with a single nymphal stage that matures directly into the adult, i.e., the life cycle is truncated. In a few species, fed juveniles remain and develop on the host, shortening the life cycle even further. Such ticks are termed "2-host" or "1-host" ticks, depending upon whether one or more juvenile stages develops in this manner. Following mating, females imbibe enormous blood meals, lay thousands of eggs and die, i.e., there is only one gonotrophic cycle. All species are oviparous. Numerous variations in the basic tick life cycle plan occur.

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Life cycles Argsidae

In the Argasidae, development is gradual, with multiple nymphal stages before reaching the adult form (multi-host life cycle). This pattern is similar to that of most other Acari, to which the normal sequence of developmental stages includes a larva, 4 nymphal stages and the adult (Woolley, 1988).
In argasids, mated females oviposit after each blood meal, i.e., there are multiple gonotrophic cycles.

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Egg

After mating and the completion of the blood meal, female ticks seek sheltered environments, similar to those used by the immatures for molting, to lay their eggs.
In the Argasidae, small egg batches are deposited after each blood meal.
In the Ixodidae, the mated females lay thousands of eggs in a single gonotrophic cycle. Ixodid ticks exhibit phenomenal fecundity, perhaps the highest of any hematophagous arthropod.

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Larva

Unfed larvae hatch from an egg batch of some hundreds (Argasidae, soft ticks) to several thousands (Ixodidae, hard ticks) in anywhere from two weeks to several months.
Ixodid larvae climb the vegetation or other surfaces in their natural environment and commence questing.
Argasid hungry larvae attack vertebrate hosts inhabiting the nest, burrow, or other niche environment.
Following host contact, larvae attach, insert their mouthparts into the host skin and feed.
Engorgement is completed within several days, depending upon the species and host.
After obtaining a blood meal they usually drop to the ground, shed their skin and emerge as 8- legged nymphs.

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Nymphs

Nymphs resemble the adult tick in that they have eight legs. They do not, however, have a genital opening. Nymphs must be able to live without feeding for long periods of time until it finds a suitable host.
Hard ticks have only one nymphal instar while soft ticks may have several. A few ticks have only one host and molt on it, leaving the host only to lay eggs.
Detached engorged nymphs drop off, ecdyse in the natural environment, and the engorged nymphs molt into unfed adults.
In general, nymphs in the lowest weight classes give rise to more males than females, while the heaviest nymphs produce more females (Pound et al., 1986).

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Adults

Adult ticks may require several days of feeding before they are able to reproduce. In Ixodidae, the emerging adults harden climb to a suitable surface (e.g., tips of vegetation) and commence questing. The cycle is repeated when the ticks contact their host. Host contact is followed by attachment and feeding.
Argasid adults, following emergence, may first mate in the niche or attack hosts. Following host contact, adults feed rapidly, engorge and drop off.
Male hard ticks usually die soon after mating, and females die soon after laying their eggs.
Adult soft ticks are generally longer-lived, and egg-laying is a periodic activity of the female.

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