Is questing a behavior observable in soft ticks when they are searching for hosts?

Questing is a behavior associated primarily with hard ticks, not soft ticks. While hard ticks climb onto vegetation and extend their legs to grasp onto a passing host—this behavior is what is referred to as "questing"—soft ticks do not exhibit this characteristic. Instead, soft ticks typically remain hidden in their environment and wait for a host to come into close proximity.

The nature of soft tick behavior is more passive, with these organisms taking advantage of undisturbed conditions rather than actively seeking out hosts like their hard counterparts. This distinction between the two types of ticks is crucial in understanding their life cycles and habits, particularly in pest management and control within Texas and similar environments. The focus on questing behavior as exclusive to hard ticks highlights the significant differences in host-seeking strategies among tick species.