Life cycle completed on a single host and lasts from 39 – 259 days (egg to engorged adult). Females known to produce 2000 to more than 4000 eggs. Larvae climb to tips of vegetation and attach to passing hosts.

Hosts are usually cattle although deer, horses, sheep, goats and buffalo can serve as hosts.

Vector of Texas Cattle Fever (Babesia bigemina) to cattle.