Each developmental stage of a tick's life requires a blood meal in order to reach the next stage.
Some species can survive for years without feeding.
The eggs take about two weeks to hatch. After hatching, the larvae move into grass or shrubs in search of their first blood meal. If you or your pet passes by, they attach themselves and crawl upward in pursuit of an area on the skin to feed from. After this first blood meal, the larvae molt into their nymph stage and begin searching for their next host. Nymphs are the size of a freckle and often go undetected, increasing the chance for disease transmission.