Editorial use only Scientist artificially feeding Ornithodoros maritimus ticks, facilitated by red light. Ticks are parasitic arachnids that feed on the blood of various hosts including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Ornithodoros maritimus ticks infect a wide range of seabirds including gulls. They are important vectors of disease and can transmit viruses such as West Nile fever and Soldado virus, which can cause high mortality in bird populations.