Ticks feed on mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
On humans they remain feeding for several days until becoming so engorged they drop off. Frequently diseases are transmitted by the larval or nymphal stages of the ticks. Cutaneous lesions range from erythematous papules to bullous or ulcerated plaques or pseudolymphoma. A gyrate erythema suggests Lyme. The tick is removed by applying steady gentle traction on the head so as not to break off tick parts.