What kind of host do adult Blacklegged "Deer" Ticks primarily feed on?

Adult Blacklegged "Deer" Ticks primarily feed on deer and humans. These ticks are particularly associated with white-tailed deer, which serve as a crucial host for the adult ticks due to their size and the fact that they provide an ample opportunity for ticks to attach and feed. While these ticks can also feed on humans, the presence of deer in their life cycle is significant, as the ticks often rely on deer for their reproductive success. This relationship is critical because deer not only support the adult ticks but also facilitate the spread of the ticks and the diseases they carry, such as Lyme disease.

In terms of their life cycle, Blacklegged Ticks spend the larval and nymph stages primarily feeding on smaller mammals and birds. However, as adults, their preferred hosts shift significantly to larger mammals, which includes both deer and humans, highlighting the interaction between these ticks and their larger hosts. This emphasizes the importance of large mammals in sustaining tick populations in various ecosystems.