Deer ticks are best described as:

Deer ticks are best described as:

• A. Insects
• B. Mollusks
• C. Fish
• D. Arachnids that can transmit Lyme disease and other illnesses to humans and animals

Answer: (D)

Deer ticks are arachnids, part of the same group as spiders and mites. They have eight legs as adults and a two-part body plan, unlike insects which have six legs and three main body segments. This anatomical difference is the clearest way to classify them as arachnids rather than insects, mollusks, or fish. They’re also noteworthy as disease vectors: when they bite, they can transmit pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, along with other illnesses to humans and animals. So, describing them as arachnids that can transmit Lyme disease and other illnesses captures both their biological classification and their role in health risks.