The Marathon wiki

{{Indicator}}
{{Species infobox
|image=[[File:Tick.jpg|300px]]
|caption=
|latin=
|classification=
|height=
|weight=
|distinctions= Mega-arthropod
|lifespan=
|homeworld=
|techlevel=
|notable-person=
|languages=
}}
{{Quote|No bugs should be cat-sized!|Engineer}}<ref>''Marathon'' (2026), Codex, Survey Drone Cartridge: EARLY SURVEY WORK</ref>

'''Ticks''' are large, carnivorous mega-[[Wikipedia:Cetoniinae|Cetoniinae]] presumed to be native to [[Tau Ceti IV]]. Their current form and behavior may be a result of [[Colony Era]] research.<ref>''Marathon'' (2026), Codex, THREAT: TICKS</ref>

== Behavior ==
Ticks are highly aggressive. They gestate in large fleshy communal nests, which they defend by rushing any perceived threats and exploding in a caustic, super-heated mess.<ref>[[Marathon (2026)|''Marathon'' (2026)]]</ref>

During the Colony Era, [[New Cascadia]] entomologist [[Dr. Tobias Luttero]] observed that ticks exhibited a range of behavior which he classified into the categories of Approach, Chasing, Foraging, Roll, Singing, Threat Display, and Waving. He noted that ticks had never been observed retreating from a threat. When foraging, the ticks displayed no preference for what they consumed. Their "singing" was done at a frequency inaudible to the human ear, and served to provoke other ticks within hearing range to chase a single target. The Waving behavior occured when a tick ceased movement, lifted each leg in succession, and rotated it counterclockwise. Luttero could not determine the purpose of this behavior.<ref>''Marathon'' (2026), Codex, Premium Tick Milk: TICK ETHOGRAM</ref>

== History ==
Research conducted by Dr. Luttero during the Colony Era showed that ticks were not capable of being domesticated. During the course of these studies, the ticks' behavior went from indifferent to aggressive in response to the colonists' ecological presence and they developed toxins in a matter of weeks.<ref>''Marathon'' (2026), Codex, Premium Tick Milk: TICK-RELATED INCIDENT</ref>

Luttero later spearheaded the process to utilize the ticks' excreted waste as a nutrient source. Ticks were encouraged to deposit their waste in collection pods using artificial pheromones, which were noted to make the ticks more territorial. Then genetically modified bacteria was used to digest the waste and turn it into a drinkable protein source dubbed "tick milk", which could supplement up to one-third of a healthy adult's caloric intake.<ref>''Marathon'' (2026), Codex, Premium Tick Milk: TICK MILK EDUCATION</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Codex Ticks.png|The tick's [[Codex]] image.
File:2026 Marathon Server Slam PressKit Compressed 06 (1).jpg|A tick charges [[Runner|Runners]] inside the [[Data Wall]] on [[Lore:Perimeter|Perimeter]].
File:Perimeter TickInfestedBuildingInterior.png|The interior of a tick-infested building in Perimeter.
File:Bio-Research TickHarvest.png|Ticks being harvested for their "milk" in [[Bio-Research]].
File:Poster RedefineTick.png|A [[Colony Era]] poster depicting research on a tick.
</gallery>

=== Tick milk ===
<gallery>
File:CDX TickMilk.png|A container of tick milk.
File:Poster TickMilk.png|A poster for tick milk used around [[New Cascadia]].
File:Poster TickMilk123.png|Another poster for tick milk.
</gallery>

== Appearance ==
*''[[Marathon (2026)]]'' {{1st}}

== References ==
<references>
</references>

{{Species}}
[[Category:New species]]