Who eats ticks in the food chain: which birds eat "bloodsuckers" and why parasites bypass forest anthills

Who are ticks

Ticks belong to the class of arachnids, which unites 25 species. They are very small, ranging in size from 000 to 0,1 mm, rarely being up to 0,5 mm long. Ticks do not have wings; they move by sensory apparatus.

He smells his prey at a distance of up to 10 meters, feeds on blood. The body of the female is covered with scales, due to which her body is able to stretch, after they are saturated with blood, and increase in size.

Description and types

The body of a bloodsucker consists of a head and a torso, and they also have 8 walking legs. The head is designed in such a way that it allows it to be fixed in the body of the victim in such a way that it is then difficult to pull it out. At the same time, the bloodsucker still secretes saliva, which creates a solid consistency in the wound of the victim.

There are over 48 species of ticks that have adapted to live in a wide variety of climates. Ixodid - represent the greatest danger to humans and animals, they are widespread in Russia everywhere. Also well known such types:

Features of the lifestyle of ticks

Life cycle of ticks.

In its development, the tick resides in 3 stages and at each it has its own host. The female lays larvaethat live in the ground and feed on the blood of rodents.

Then they molt and move on to the next stage - nymph, larger animals become their victims.

After this stage, they molt and become imago, being an adult. There are also those in which all stages of development occur on one or two animals that are their prey.

Where does the tick live

Ticks live in nature, because they love moisture, they are not higher than one meter from the ground. They lie in wait for their prey on the ground, in a bed of grass, on the bushes.

On the paws are the olfactory organs, with the help of which he analyzes the change in the composition of the air. When the victim approaches, the bloodsucker senses this and activates. He waits for the victim to pass by and can crawl to her himself. Having reached the victim, they first look for a convenient place on the body, clinging with the help of paws with suction cups.

What does a tick eat

Since there are many types of ticks, they can be divided into two types according to the type of food:

• feeding on organic remains, called saprophages;
• feeding on the juice of plants and the blood of animals and humans, called predators.

Significance in nature and human life

It is believed that only troubles for humans, animals and plants are associated with ticks, with their bites. Damage caused by ticks:

• parasitize on animals, humans and plants;
• spoil food, flour, grain.

Although the negative impact of parasites on human and animal health is greater, one should know what they are. benefit in nature:

• they are used to control other agricultural pests;
• they play an important role in soil formation: decomposition of animal and plant organisms, saturation of soil with beneficial microorganisms;
• rid plants of parasites.

Natural enemies of ticks

Ticks are not active all year round, when it is very cold or hot, they plunge into such a state that their metabolic processes slow down. In this state, they can fall prey to many animals that are looking for arthropods for food. Herbivores can also swallow them along with the grass. Consider the main natural enemies of bloodsuckers.

Birds

Birds that are looking for food on the ground are a great danger to bloodsuckers:

The most active sparrows, moreover, scientists have found out what attracts them to the blood in the belly of the parasite. So hungry individuals are more likely to survive. Birds that search for their food in the air on the fly do not eat ticks.

There are birds that eat parasites from the skins of animals. These include cuckoos, buffalo weavers, earth finches.

Insects

Ticks can become victims of many insects:

The most active enemies of bloodsuckers are ants, a tick that has fed on them is a tasty prey. They attack him in large colonies.

Natural enemies of ticks in Russia

On the territory of Russia, dangerous enemies for ticks are predatory insects, birds and animals. Ants, lacewings, riders, ground beetles are the most active. It is they who hold back the increase in the population of bloodsuckers. Although they prey on already fed individuals, this does not make our forests safer for people.

However, not always the destruction of ticks chemicals justifies itself because it leads to the destruction of their natural enemies. The next generations of ticks will live in more relaxed conditions, not being afraid of being eaten.

It makes no sense to burn the grass, as small rodents, birds and beneficial insects will also die in the fire. It is important not to interfere grossly in the natural process, since the destruction of one species in the food chain leads to the death of many others.