Glossary explainerWorldwide

What is a host in the tick life cycle?

A host is a person or animal on which a tick feeds. Different tick species and life stages use different ranges of hosts.

Reviewed by VuxLore® Knowledge Team For Everyone

Short answer

A host is a person or animal on which a tick feeds. Different tick species and life stages use different ranges of hosts.

At a glance

A host may feed a tick, transport it or infect it with a pathogen, but those roles are not always combined.

Key takeaways

• Host range differs by species and stage.

• A host is not automatically a reservoir.

• Humans are incidental hosts for many ticks.

Blood meals drive development

Hard ticks usually require a blood meal before moulting or producing eggs. Larvae, nymphs and adults may feed on the same type of host or on different host groups.

Roles must be distinguished

A reservoir host maintains a pathogen and can infect feeding vectors. Another host may support many ticks but contribute little to that pathogen's cycle.