And these little cridders DO carry disease.

Ticks are not insects. They’re actually arachnids or relatives of spiders, scorpions and mites. They have 4 pairs of legs and no antennae. Ticks don’t jump or fly. Instead, they crawl up low brush or grass to find a host. Then, they clasp on with their back legs and reach their front legs out to grab onto a passing animal or human. This process is called questing. Sometimes, they even drop from their perch and free fall onto a passing host.

Once they dig in they are in for the log haul. Unlike many other biting pests, ticks are adapted to feed for long periods of time. They bury their curved teeth deeply into the skin of a host, so they can remain securely attached for days on end to eat.

Dogs and cats are ripe victims for ticks too so check them after a walk.