Which statement about ticks is true?

The correct statement is that both male and female ticks feed on blood. This feeding behavior is vital for their reproductive cycle, particularly for females, as they require blood meals to develop and lay eggs. While female ticks are indeed more commonly associated with feeding on blood—especially because they engorge significantly when they do—males also feed on blood, though often to a lesser extent.

When ticks attach to a host, they use specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and draw blood, which provides essential nutrients. This feeding behavior is how ticks transmit various pathogens, making them vectors for diseases. Each sex plays a role in the life cycle of ticks, engaging in host-seeking and blood-feeding for different reasons, but it is not accurate to say that only one sex feeds on blood. This understanding is key for both control measures and personal protection against ticks.