Ticks' attraction to electrically charged hosts

Ticks are blood-feeding parasites with limited locomotion, known for transmitting multiple pathogens to vertebrates. England et al. suggest that ticks can be easily pulled, via electrostatic induction, toward charged hosts with fluffy coats that are prone to accumulate higher electrostatic potentials. Thus, static electricity may influence ticks' ecology and management.

Automated summary

Ticks can be easily attracted to animals with fluffy coats through electrostatic induction, potentially leading to the transmission of pathogens between them. This phenomenon may have implications for the ecology and management of ticks.