After hatching, what must a tick eat at every life stage to survive?

Ticks are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites, meaning that they require a blood meal at each life stage to survive and develop. This includes the larval stage, nymphal stage, and adult stage. During these stages, ticks attach to a host—often mammals, birds, or reptiles—where they feed on blood, which is essential for their growth, reproduction, and overall survival.

The nutritional requirements of ticks are highly specific, and they rely solely on the proteins, lipids, and other nutrients found in blood to progress through their life cycle. In contrast, the other choices—plant matter, dried fruit, and animal waste—do not provide the essential nutrients that ticks need. Therefore, without a regular intake of blood at every life stage, ticks cannot thrive or reproduce, emphasizing the critical nature of blood meals in their life cycle.