What must happen for ticks to develop into adults?

Ticks undergo a complex life cycle that includes several stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. To progress from one stage to the next, especially from the nymph to the adult stage, ticks must feed at different life stages, which is where option A comes into play.

To develop into adults, ticks need to consume blood meals at least three times: once as larvae, once as nymphs, and finally, to mature into adults. Each feeding is crucial for their growth and development, as it provides the necessary nutrients needed to develop through their life cycle.

Other options like building a nest or hibernating are not essential for the development of ticks into adults. Ticks typically do not establish nests like other pests do, and while they may go dormant in certain conditions, this is not a requirement for maturation into adult ticks. Additionally, the notion that ticks must wait for two years is incorrect; while some ticks may have varying lifespans and developmental times depending on the species and environmental conditions, the feeding process is the definitive factor in reaching adulthood.