| − | '''Ticks''' are a species of insect known for their parasitic life-style. They have four pairs of legs and are effectively balloons with mouth parts. They are known for transmitting [[Lyme's disease]], usually by the [[sheep]] or [[castor bean]] tick, ''Ixodes ricinus''. <ref>http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/ixodes_ricinus.pdf</ref> | + | '''Ticks''' are a group of species of [[arachnid]] known for their parasitic life-style. They have four pairs of legs and are effectively balloons with mouth parts. They are known for transmitting [[Lyme disease]], usually by the [[sheep]] or [[castor bean]] tick, ''Ixodes ricinus''. <ref>http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/ixodes_ricinus.pdf</ref> |
| − | Ticks have a complex life cycle involving both nymphal and pupal stages, which requires blood meals between each. | + | Ticks have a complex life cycle involving both nymphal and pupal stages, which requires blood meals between each. There are two main subgroups of ticks, hard ticks and soft ticks. |