Ticks are blood-feeding external parasites of humans, pets, livestock, and reptiles. They require a blood meal at each stage in their development. Generally, they will have a different host at each stage. Ticks move up onto grass or other vegetation and wait for a host to pass nearby. They detect the breathing of a host, their body heat, and vibrations caused by the host’s movement. When a host passes, the tick quickly moves to the host and eventually attaches for a blood meal. Ticks insert their mouthparts into the host along with saliva that contains an anesthetic. Ticks feed for several days, and if the host is infected, ingest a disease pathogen with the blood. Also, some of the saliva from the tick may enter the host and a pathogen may be passed to the host. Once feeding is completed, the tick drops off the host and moves onto the next life stage. Depending on the species of tick, they may transmit viruses, bacteria, and protozoans.