Quiz Vampires and Other Blood Suckers

Ticks are classified into two categories: soft ticks and hard ticks.      True or False

Hard ticks (Ixodidae) are a group of parasitic arthropods.           True or False

Hard ticks have a hard, scutate exoskeleton and a distinctive, shield-shaped plate (known as the scutum) on their back.
True or False

They have a life cycle that consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.     True or False

Hard ticks are obligate blood feeders, meaning that they require a blood meal in order to molt and reproduce.    True or False

Ticks undergo a process called molting, where they shed their exoskeleton in order to grow larger.   True or False

Hard ticks are capable of surviving in a wide range of habitats, including forests, fields, deserts, and even office buildings.
True or False

Hard ticks are known for their questing behavior, which involves climbing up onto a blade of grass, shrub, or other vegetation, and then extending their legs in order to latch onto a passing host.       True or False

Hard ticks are able to detect hosts through a combination of carbon dioxide and other chemicals that are emitted by animals, as well as through visual and thermal cues.     True or False

Once a tick has attached to a host, it uses its mouthparts to pierce the skin and begin feeding on blood.    True or False

Soft ticks have a leathery, wrinkled skin and a flattened body, which enables them to hide in cracks and crevices where they wait for a host to pass by.      True or False

Unlike hard ticks, which can feed for several days, soft ticks feed for only a few minutes to a few hours.    True or False

One of the most well-known species of soft ticks is the Ornithodoros spp. or the “relapsing fever tick”.     True or False

Soft ticks can be difficult to control because they hide in cracks and crevices during the day and only come out at night to feed.      True or False

The life cycle of the blacklegged tick includes four stages: eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults.      True or False

The life cycle of the Lone Star tick can take up to two years to complete, and each stage requires a blood meal in order to molt into the next stage.     True or False

American dog ticks are identified by their distinctive brown coloring and large size, with adult females growing up to 1/2 inch in length.        True or False

Ticks thrive in tall grasses and other overgrown vegetation, so keeping lawns mowed and other outdoor areas trimmed can help reduce tick populations.     True or False

Lyme disease is most frequently reported from the upper midwestern, northeastern, and mid-Atlantic states where it is spread by Ixodes scapularis ticks.      True or False

Chiggers, a type of mite in the genus Trombicula that are commonly found in grassy areas and wooded areas, particularly in the southern United States.       True or False