Which stage of the Blacklegged "Deer" Tick feeds on rodents and small mammals?

The immature stage of the Blacklegged "Deer" Tick is responsible for feeding on rodents and small mammals. This stage includes both larval and nymphal ticks. After hatching from eggs, larvae typically seek small hosts such as mice or birds to feed on, which are critical for their growth and development.

Once they have fed as larvae, they can molt into nymphs, which also continue to seek small mammals and are known for their role in transmitting diseases such as Lyme disease. The feeding behavior during the immature stages is essential for the tick's lifecycle, facilitating growth and the transition to adulthood, where they may feed on larger hosts such as deer or humans.

In contrast, the adult stage primarily feeds on larger animals, and the egg stage does not involve any feeding at all. Thus, the classification of the immature stage as the tick lifecycle phase that feeds on small mammals helps reinforce the understanding of the ecological role these ticks play during their developmental phases.