Which statement about American dog ticks is true?

• A. Seed tick usually found on rodents
• B. Considered a household pest
• C. Rarely bites humans
• D. Often found on cats

Answer: (A)

American dog ticks have a three-stage life cycle (larva, nymph, adult), and the larval stage, often called seed ticks, typically attaches to small mammals such as rodents to take its first blood meal. This host pattern explains why that statement is true: seed ticks are commonly found on rodents before they move on to larger hosts like dogs as they mature. Ticks generally aren’t considered household pests since they live outdoors in vegetation and only occasionally enter homes. They do bite humans, especially when people are in tick-infested areas, so the idea that they rarely bite humans isn’t accurate. While adults can feed on dogs and sometimes other hosts, they aren’t typically described as being commonly found on cats.