How Does a Tick Do Its Dirty Work? Research Video Offers a Clue

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/science/earth/how-does-a-tick-do-its-dirty-work-research-video-offers-a-clue.html?ref=science&_r=0



So how does a tick pierce the skin and start feeding on a creatures blood. It turns out that tick have twin saws to break the skin. These twin saws also help the tick remained settled for days as it feeds on its victims blood. The tick that carries Lyme disease, such as the wood and deer tick, are about as big as a sesame seed, making it even deadlier since wounds could go unnoticed. About 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year in the U.S., however experts believe that there are more than 300,000 cases in the Northeast and Midwest alone each year. The tick is just an amazing tool of evolution that is unlikely to go extinct because of its simplistic lifestyle and ability to adapt and obtain resources.