The tiny arachnids spread a variety of harmful diseases, as they expand their range to new areas. But two scientists recently set out on a counterintuitive mission to collect as many bloodsucking ticks as possible. Dr. Lihou is a veterinary parasitologist who studies ticks, and Dr. England is an ecologist who studies electricity and electroreception. The resulting paper, published Friday in the journal Current Biology, provides a new reason to worry about ticks. While the finding may add to ticks’ terrifying attributes, this knowledge could also be used to improve antistatic tick defenses.

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Persons: ” Sam England, Katie L, Lihou Organizations: University of Bristol Locations: Berlin, England