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The Tick Life Cycle: From Six-Legged Larva to Eight-Legged Adult
Most ticks move through egg, larval, nymphal and adult stages, changing hosts and developing from six legs to eight.
Most ticks pass through four life stages: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph and adult. A blood meal is normally required for development after hatching.
A cycle that can take years
The timing and host pattern vary by species. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that some multi-host tick life cycles can take up to three years. Review the CDC tick lifecycle overview.
Connect biology to identification
Life stage changes scale and appearance, so identification should not rely on size alone. Explore the Tick ID Centre and the wider Tick Knowledge Centre.