Wood Ticks are not insects, they are arachnids. They are closely related to spiders and scorpions. They latch on to thier mammal host and feed off the blood. When they are full they will drop off and digest so they can molt and complete the next stage of development. Wood ticks transmit several diseases to their host which may include but are not limited to: Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado Tick Fever, and Tularemia to name a few.