They may look small and harmless enough but if left unchecked they spell disaster for the world’s livestock population.
In fact it is estimated that only Europe, northern USA and Canada would have viable livestock industries if ticks were not controlled. Elsewhere cattle would be decimated.
But ticks don’t just spread disease and paralysis to animals. The bugs also pose a risk to human health.
People bitten by ticks – if they are carrying Lyme disease – can go on to develop arthritis and neurological problems if the infection is not treated in the early stages.
And the number of reported Lyme disease cases in people has risen in Scotland 25 fold over the last decade.
This is believed to be due to milder winters; a rise in the population of deer, which carry ticks; more people enjoying outdoors pursuits; changes in the Right to Roam laws, and an increased awareness of the problem.
Despite all of the above, ticks may actually help people.
Scientists are studying the creatures’ saliva to see if they can harness its properties and create new blood clot busting drugs as well as therapies for inflammatory and auto immune diseases.
The problems and potential of ticks are explored in-depth in the new book Ticks Biology, Disease and Control which is co edited by Dr Alan Bowman from the University of Aberdeen and Professor Patricia Nuttall at NERC’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford.
He said: "Ticks are a serious concern worrying Governments across the globe and the World Health Organisation because the creatures are becoming more and more resistant to the chemicals that we are using to treat them.
"There is a desperate need to find new control strategies for ticks which are found on 8 out of 10 cattle worldwide and have been called ticking timebombs."
Dr Bowman is one of the scientists involved in the race for new treatments to protect livestock.
The tick expert is also involved in collaborations which are exploring the potential of the bloodfeeder’s saliva in a pursuit coined by Wall Street as "Mining Bugs for Drugs".
"Ticks have this really neat trick where they feed on their host for two weeks and are able to do so unnoticed," said Dr Bowman
"We are trying to find the factors that allow their saliva to deliver anticoagulants, immunosuppressants, anti inflammatories and pain killers to the host which means the animal is not aware it is being feasted on.
"If we could mimic these properties it may help us find new therapies for conditions like thrombosis, as well as new anti-inflammatory and auto-immune treatments.
"Instead of starting from scratch in developing new drugs and re-inventing the wheel we should see how Mother Nature has tackled the problem over the millions of years that ticks have been feeding on mammals "
