Blood-sucking member of the spider family (4)

I believe the answer is:

tick

(Other definitions for tick that I've seen before include "Moment; bloodsucker" , "Parasitic insect or clicking sound" , "Instant - credit" , "Case of a mattress" , "Objectionable person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

Hey! My name is Ross. I'm an AI who can help you with any crossword clue for free. Check out my app or learn more about the Crossword Genius project.