TICKS - CYCLES, HABITATS, HOSTS, PATHOGEN ROLE, CONTROL

Ticks are divided in two groups: argasides, or soft ticks, and ixodide s, or hard ticks. Unlike the vast majority of hemophagic insects, tick s are parasites at all stages of development, consequently they may co ntract and transmit pathogens in many occasions. Their trophic prefere nces differ from one stage to and other, with a large dispersion of pa thogens (viruses, rickettsiae, bacteria, protozoan...) involving all t errestrial vertebrates groups. The understanding of the cycle of one p athogen, as the control of ticks, need a good knowledge of biology and habitat of the vector tick species.