The two principle types of ticks are hard and soft ticks. The hard ticks, which include the genera Amblyomma, Boophil us, Dermacentor, Ixodes , Rhipicephal us and others are identifiable by their distinct hard dorsal covering, the scutum. They attach themselves to the host during feeding and remain there for a considerable period of time before engorgement is completed. The larva and nymph take only one blood meal each. The adult female takes a single blood meal before dropping off the host to digest the blood and lay a single large batch of eggs.
Most hard ticks have either two or three hosts during their development.
The soft ticks have four genera, Antricola, Argas, Ornithodoros and Otobius, and lack a scutum. These ticks have much the same habits as bedbugs, hiding in cracks or crevices in houses or in nests of their hosts and coming out at night to feed on the blood of the host for a short period. The larvae and nymphs generally feed several times before molting. The adult female feeds a number of times, laying a small batch of eggs after each feeding. High-top shoes, boots, leggings or socks pulled up over the trouser cuffs help prevent ticks from crawling onto the legs and body.