Thanks, GregF.
I learned that the hard covering/shell on ticks is called "scutum"

Ticks lay eggs (I thought when they got full, the eggs were in that fat part..that the full tick died and the next batch hatched from inside the dead mamatick) and the larval stage is seed ticks (I thought 'larval' meant 'worm-like')
Seed ticks run around looking for someone to eat..which would mean they aren't truly in the ground.

Would nematodes be able to get them?
Where would I shop for nematodes if I was going to give them a try?