When do ticks go into dormancy during summer?

Understanding Tick Dormancy

Defining Dormancy in Ticks

Dormancy in ticks refers to a reversible state of reduced metabolic activity that enables survival under unfavorable environmental conditions. During this period, ticks lower their heart rate, suppress feeding behavior, and minimize energy consumption. Hormonal regulation, primarily involving decreased levels of ecdysteroids and increased production of diapause‑inducing factors, coordinates the physiological shift.

Key characteristics of tick dormancy include:

Arrested questing and host‑seeking activity.
Diminished locomotion and reduced responsiveness to stimuli such as carbon dioxide and heat.
Accumulation of energy reserves, chiefly in the form of lipids, to sustain basal metabolism.
Altered gene expression patterns that favor stress resistance and suppress growth pathways.

Environmental cues that trigger dormancy encompass temperature thresholds, photoperiod length, and relative humidity. In many species, rising summer temperatures combined with prolonged daylight suppress activity, prompting entry into a summer diapause that persists until cooler, more humid conditions return. This adaptive response ensures that ticks avoid periods of excessive desiccation and limited host availability.

Factors Influencing Tick Activity

Environmental Cues

Ticks enter a state of summer diapause when environmental conditions become unfavorable for host seeking and development. The transition is governed by a set of reliable cues that signal excessive heat or desiccation.

Temperature thresholds trigger physiological changes. When ambient temperatures rise above 30 °C for extended periods, metabolic activity declines, and ticks reduce movement. Humidity levels act in parallel; relative humidity below 70 % accelerates water loss, prompting a shift to dormancy to conserve moisture.

Photoperiod provides a seasonal marker. Longer daylight hours in midsummer correlate with increased UV exposure and higher surface temperatures, reinforcing the response to thermal cues. In many species, decreasing night length after the solstice signals the onset of the dormant phase.

Host availability influences the decision. Scarcity of suitable hosts during peak heat, often due to reduced animal activity, removes the incentive for questing behavior, reinforcing the dormancy response.

The combined effect of these factors can be summarized:

Sustained high temperatures (≥30 °C)
Low relative humidity (<70  %)
Extended daylight periods typical of midsummer
Reduced host presence during extreme conditions

Ticks remain in this inactive state until environmental parameters revert to levels that support successful questing, typically when temperatures drop below the critical threshold, humidity rises, and host activity resumes.

Physiological States

Ticks exhibit distinct physiological states that enable survival under adverse summer conditions. In the warmest months, many species enter a form of dormancy known as summer diapause, a hormonally regulated suspension of development that reduces metabolic demand. This state is triggered primarily by prolonged exposure to high temperatures and extended daylight periods; thresholds vary among taxa but commonly involve ambient temperatures above 30 °C and day lengths exceeding 14 hours.

Key physiological changes during summer diapancy include:

Suppression of molting cycles, halting progression to the next life stage.
Reduction of respiratory rate and heart activity, conserving energy reserves.
Accumulation of protective proteins such as heat‑shock proteins that mitigate cellular stress.
Decreased questing behavior, limiting exposure to desiccating environments.

In species that do not undergo true diapause, a reversible quiescent state may occur. Quiescence is characterized by a temporary slowdown of metabolic processes without the hormonal cascade that defines diapause. It is usually induced by low relative humidity combined with high temperature, prompting ticks to seek sheltered microhabitats (e.g., leaf litter, soil crevices) where moisture remains higher.

Physiological responses differ between developmental stages. Nymphs and larvae, possessing higher surface‑to‑volume ratios, enter dormancy earlier in the season than adults, often when temperatures reach 28 °C. Adult females, especially those preparing for oviposition, may remain active longer but still reduce activity once sustained heat exceeds 32 °C for several consecutive days.

Understanding these physiological mechanisms clarifies why tick activity declines during the hottest part of the year, despite the presence of hosts. The dormancy states protect ticks from dehydration and thermal stress, ensuring survival until favorable conditions return in the cooler months.

Tick Life Cycle and Summer Behavior

Stages of Tick Development

Larvae

Larval ticks exhibit a seasonal reduction in activity that coincides with the hottest and driest periods of the year. During midsummer, when ambient temperatures consistently exceed 30 °C and relative humidity drops below 50 %, larvae enter a state of diapause. This physiological pause conserves energy and reduces exposure to lethal desiccation, allowing the organisms to survive until more favorable conditions return.

Key environmental cues that trigger larval diapause include:

Sustained high temperature (>30 °C) for several consecutive days.
Low atmospheric humidity (<50 %).
Decreased availability of suitable hosts, as many small mammals reduce activity in extreme heat.

When conditions improve—typically in late summer or early autumn, when temperatures fall below 25 °C and humidity rises above 60 %—larvae resume questing behavior. They become active again, seeking hosts to obtain a blood meal necessary for development to the nymph stage. This cyclical pattern ensures synchronization with host availability and optimal microclimatic conditions for survival.

Nymphs

Nymphal ticks exhibit reduced activity when summer conditions become hostile. High temperatures above 30 °C, low relative humidity under 50 %, and prolonged daylight suppress questing behavior. In these environments, nymphs enter a state of aestivation, retreating to protected microhabitats such as leaf litter, soil crevices, or rodent burrows where microclimate remains stable.

Key factors that induce summer dormancy in nymphs include:

Ambient temperature exceeding the thermal tolerance threshold for prolonged periods.
Desiccating atmosphere that accelerates water loss through the cuticle.
Decreased host availability due to diurnal activity shifts of mammals and birds.
Photoperiod length that signals seasonal progression, triggering hormonal changes.

During aestivation, metabolic rates decline, and nymphs cease feeding until conditions improve. Re‑activation typically occurs when temperature falls below the critical limit, humidity rises above the desiccation threshold, and host activity resumes, allowing nymphs to resume questing and complete their development.

Adults

Adult ticks are the reproductive stage of ixodid and argasid species, responsible for laying eggs after acquiring a blood meal. Their activity peaks in spring and autumn when temperatures and humidity support questing behavior. In midsummer, many adult populations reduce movement and feeding, entering a state of dormancy often referred to as aestivation.

Aestivation in adult ticks typically begins when ambient temperatures consistently exceed 30 °C (86 °F) and relative humidity drops below 50 %. Under these conditions, metabolic rates decline, and ticks retreat to protected microhabitats such as leaf litter, rodent burrows, or shaded soil layers. The onset can vary by region but generally occurs from late June through August in temperate zones.

Factors influencing the timing and duration of summer dormancy include:

Species: Ixodes ricinus adults may aestivate for 2–4 weeks, while Dermacentor variabilis can remain inactive for up to two months.
Latitude: Populations at higher latitudes experience shorter, milder summers and therefore a briefer dormancy period.
Habitat moisture: Areas with persistent moisture (e.g., marshes) may sustain adult activity longer than arid sites.
Photoperiod: Shortening day length in late summer can trigger physiological changes that promote dormancy.

Understanding the dormancy pattern of adult ticks assists in scheduling control measures. Interventions such as acaricide applications or habitat modifications are most effective when timed before the onset of aestivation, ensuring that active adults are exposed rather than protected within refuges.

Seasonal Activity Patterns

Spring Emergence

Ticks resume activity in early spring as temperatures rise above 5 °C and relative humidity exceeds 70 %. Questing behavior begins when larvae, nymphs, or adults detect a combination of rising soil temperature, increasing day length, and sufficient moisture. The first emergence typically occurs in March–April in temperate zones, with peak activity in May when host availability and optimal microclimate converge.

During the hottest portion of the season, ticks often enter a period of reduced activity known as summer aestivation. This dormancy usually starts when daily maximum temperatures consistently exceed 30 °C and humidity drops below 50 % for several consecutive days. The onset aligns with:

Sustained high ambient temperature (≥30 °C)
Declining leaf litter moisture
Reduced host movement during peak heat
Photoperiod stabilization after midsummer

Aestivation can last from two to six weeks, ending when temperatures fall below 25 °C and humidity rises above 60 %, typically in late July or early August. After this interval, ticks re‑activate and continue feeding cycles until autumnal conditions trigger overwintering.

Summer Peaks and Lulls

Ticks exhibit distinct activity cycles during the warm months, characterized by periods of heightened questing followed by temporary inactivity. Peak activity typically occurs in early summer when temperatures rise to 20‑30 °C and relative humidity remains above 70 %. During these conditions, ticks actively seek hosts, increasing the risk of bites.

Temporary reductions in activity, often referred to as summer dormancy or aestivation, arise when environmental thresholds exceed optimal ranges. The following factors trigger these lulls:

Temperatures above 30 °C for extended periods.
Relative humidity dropping below 50 %.
Prolonged daylight exceeding 14 hours.

When such conditions persist, ticks withdraw to sheltered microhabitats—leaf litter, soil cracks, or shaded vegetation—and reduce metabolic processes. This dormancy can last from several days to a few weeks, depending on local climate variability.

After the heat and dryness subside, typically in late July or early August, humidity rises and temperature stabilizes, prompting ticks to resume questing. The cycle of peaks and lulls repeats until autumnal cooling ends the summer activity window.

Summer Dormancy Mechanisms

Aestivation in Ticks

Triggers for Aestivation

Ticks enter summer dormancy, known as aestivation, when environmental conditions exceed their physiological tolerance. The process reduces metabolic activity, limits water loss, and prolongs survival until favorable conditions return.

High ambient temperatures, typically above 30 °C, accelerate desiccation risk and trigger dormancy mechanisms.
Low relative humidity, often below 40 %, increases cuticular water loss, prompting ticks to seek shelter.
Prolonged exposure to direct solar radiation intensifies thermal stress, reinforcing the need for inactivity.
Seasonal decline in host availability, especially when mammals and birds reduce activity during peak heat, removes feeding opportunities and induces aestivation.

Physiologically, ticks respond by lowering respiration rates, accumulating protective sugars such as trehalose, and entering a state of reduced locomotion. These adjustments conserve energy and preserve internal water balance.

Ecologically, aestivation concentrates tick populations in microhabitats offering shade and moisture, such as leaf litter, rodent burrows, or under stones. This aggregation influences pathogen transmission dynamics, as dormant ticks resume questing only when temperature and humidity return to thresholds that support host-seeking behavior.

Behavioral Adaptations

Ticks often curtail activity during the hottest portion of the year to limit water loss. The reduction in host‑seeking behavior, commonly termed summer dormancy, results from a combination of environmental cues and intrinsic physiological mechanisms.

Key behavioral adaptations include:

Microhabitat selection – Ticks retreat to shaded leaf litter, soil cracks, or under bark where relative humidity remains high.
Vertical migration – Questing height decreases; individuals remain close to the substrate, reducing exposure to desiccating air currents.
Aggregation – Groups cluster in moist refuges, creating a localized microclimate that mitigates evaporation.
Reduced locomotion – Movement slows, conserving energy and limiting surface area exposed to dry conditions.
Photoperiod response – Shortening daylight triggers a shift toward inactivity, aligning behavior with seasonal humidity patterns.

The onset of these behaviors correlates with temperature thresholds that exceed the species‑specific tolerance for water loss. In temperate regions, dormancy typically begins when daytime temperatures regularly surpass 30 °C and relative humidity falls below 50 %. Photoperiod lengthening also signals the approach of peak summer, reinforcing the behavioral shift.

Understanding these adaptations informs timing of acaricide applications and habitat management. Targeting periods before dormancy resumes host‑seeking activity maximizes control efficacy, while preserving moist microhabitats can reduce tick density by limiting suitable refuges.

Diapause vs. Quiescence

Distinguishing Dormancy States

Ticks exhibit two principal summer dormancy mechanisms: quiescent inactivity and true aestivation. Quiescence is a reversible metabolic slowdown triggered by immediate environmental conditions such as temperature spikes or low humidity. The tick remains active in the sense that it can resume feeding within minutes of favorable conditions returning. Aestivation, by contrast, is a hormonally regulated state entered in anticipation of prolonged adverse periods. During aestivation, physiological processes such as molting, reproduction, and host‑seeking are suppressed for days to weeks, and reactivation requires a coordinated hormonal shift.

Key characteristics distinguishing the two states include:

Trigger: Quiescence responds to acute stimuli; aestivation initiates in response to seasonal cues.
Duration: Quiescence lasts hours to a few days; aestivation can persist for several weeks.
Physiological changes: Quiescence involves minor reductions in respiration; aestivation entails extensive down‑regulation of metabolic enzymes, accumulation of protective proteins, and reduction of water loss.
Behavioral response: Quiescent ticks remain positioned on hosts or in the leaf litter, ready to resume activity; aestivating ticks often relocate to sheltered microhabitats such as deep leaf litter, soil cracks, or under stones.

Field observations confirm that Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor variabilis display quiescent pauses during midday heat, while Amblyomma americanum typically enters aestivation when summer temperatures consistently exceed 30 °C and relative humidity drops below 30 %. Laboratory experiments demonstrate that artificially lowering humidity to 20 % for 48 h induces quiescence in I. ricinus, whereas sustained exposure to 35 °C for 10 days triggers aestivation in A. americanum.

Understanding these distinctions informs control strategies. Quiescent periods allow targeted acaricide application during brief windows of host activity, whereas aestivation requires habitat modification—such as mulching to retain moisture—to disrupt long‑term dormancy sites.

Impact on Tick Survival

Ticks enter a period of reduced activity in the hottest part of the season, typically when ambient temperatures exceed 30 °C and relative humidity drops below 70 %. This summer diapause conserves water and limits exposure to lethal desiccation, directly influencing survival rates.

Elevated temperatures increase metabolic demand; dormancy lowers respiration, reducing energy depletion.
Low humidity accelerates cuticular water loss; a quiescent state minimizes movement, preserving body moisture.
Predation pressure intensifies during active foraging; inactivity lowers encounter frequency with birds and mammals that feed on ticks.
Pathogen transmission cycles depend on host contact; dormancy delays feeding opportunities, affecting pathogen acquisition and spread.

Consequences for population dynamics are measurable. Studies show a 20‑30 % increase in overwintering tick abundance in regions where summer dormancy aligns with peak heat stress, compared with populations lacking this response. Conversely, premature termination of dormancy due to sudden rainstorms can lead to rapid dehydration and mortality spikes of up to 15 % within 48 hours.

Overall, the timing and duration of summer inactivity serve as a physiological buffer that enhances tick resilience under extreme climatic conditions, thereby shaping regional tick density and disease risk profiles.

Regional Variations in Tick Dormancy

Geographic Factors

Climate Zones

Ticks enter summer dormancy, or aestivation, at different times depending on the climate zone in which they reside. In temperate zones with moderate temperatures and regular precipitation, dormancy usually begins when daily maximum temperatures exceed 30 °C and humidity drops below 60 %. In subtropical zones, where heat persists longer, ticks may remain active until temperatures reach 35 °C and moisture falls below 50 %. In arid desert regions, extreme heat and low humidity trigger dormancy as early as June, sometimes before midsummer. In alpine or high‑elevation zones, cooler summers delay dormancy until late July or August, when short‑term heat spikes appear.

Typical onset of tick aestivation by climate zone:

Temperate (e.g., northern United States, central Europe): late June to early July.
Subtropical (e.g., southeastern United States, parts of Japan): early to mid‑July.
Arid/Desert (e.g., southwestern United States, North Africa): May to early June.
Alpine/High‑Elevation (e.g., Rocky Mountains, European Alps): late July to early August.

These patterns reflect the interaction of temperature thresholds and relative humidity levels that signal unsuitable conditions for feeding and reproduction. When either factor surpasses the zone‑specific limits, ticks reduce metabolic activity, seek sheltered microhabitats, and remain inactive until conditions improve. Understanding the regional climate parameters that trigger dormancy aids in predicting periods of reduced tick activity and informs public‑health measures.

Habitat Types

Ticks reduce activity in the hottest months, entering a summer diapause that depends heavily on the characteristics of their surroundings. Moisture retention, shade, and temperature fluctuations within a habitat determine the precise moment the pause begins and ends.

Deciduous forest floor – dense leaf litter preserves humidity; ticks may stay active longer, delaying dormancy until mid‑July.
Coniferous woodland – needle litter provides moderate shade; dormancy often starts in early July as ground temperatures rise.
Grassland and meadow – exposed soil dries quickly; ticks typically become inactive by late June.
Shrub thicket – mixed canopy offers intermittent shade; dormancy onset occurs between late June and early July.
Urban park and garden – irrigation and artificial shade can sustain activity into July, but pavement edges force earlier cessation.
Riparian zone – constant moisture near water bodies can postpone dormancy to late July or early August.

Microclimate measurements confirm that habitats maintaining relative humidity above 80 % and ground temperatures below 25 °C allow ticks to remain questing later in the season. Conversely, locations where soil moisture drops below 15 % and surface temperature exceeds 30 °C trigger an earlier summer pause.

Understanding habitat‑specific timing aids surveillance programs by indicating when tick collections become unreliable and when control measures should shift from active to preventive strategies.

Species-Specific Differences

Common Tick Species and Their Strategies

Ticks enter a period of reduced activity in the hottest months, often termed summer diapause. This response varies among species, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to temperature, humidity, and host availability.

Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged tick) – seeks shelter in leaf litter and soil cracks; activity drops when temperatures exceed 30 °C and relative humidity falls below 70 %. Adults and nymphs remain quiescent until cooler evenings or higher moisture levels return.
Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) – retreats to shaded vegetation or rodent burrows; larvae and nymphs cease questing during peak heat, resuming activity in late afternoon or after rainstorms that raise humidity.
Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick) – adopts a rapid desiccation avoidance strategy; adults hide under logs or in tall grasses, entering a dormant state when daytime temperatures rise above 32 °C. Nymphs reduce movement until nightfall.
Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick) – prefers indoor environments; in hot outdoor conditions, it seeks cooler microhabitats within structures, pausing feeding cycles until temperature and humidity stabilize.
Haemaphysalis longicornis (long‑horned tick) – utilizes leaf litter and low‑lying vegetation; larvae and nymphs suspend host‑seeking behavior during extreme heat, reactivating when night temperatures drop below 28 °C.

Each species balances thermoregulation and moisture retention through habitat selection, timing of questing, and physiological slowdown. Understanding these strategies clarifies why tick activity diminishes during the summer peak and informs targeted control measures.

Emerging Threats

Ticks enter a period of reduced activity in the hottest months, a phase that historically limited pathogen transmission. Recent observations reveal several emerging threats linked to shifts in this summer dormancy.

Accelerated climate warming extends the active season, allowing ticks to resume feeding earlier and remain active later, increasing exposure risk.
Altered humidity patterns create microhabitats where dormancy is shortened, facilitating rapid population growth.
Development of resistance to acaricides reduces control effectiveness during the brief window when ticks are most vulnerable.
Expansion of wildlife hosts into suburban areas sustains tick populations even when adult activity declines, maintaining pathogen reservoirs.
Emergence of novel pathogens, such as Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp., coincides with altered dormancy timing, complicating diagnosis and treatment.

Monitoring environmental indicators, integrating predictive models, and adapting management strategies are essential to mitigate the health impact of these evolving challenges.

Practical Implications and Prevention

Risk Assessment During Summer Months

High-Risk Periods

Ticks remain active during the early and middle phases of the warm season, creating distinct periods of elevated exposure before they enter summer dormancy. Risk peaks when temperature, humidity, and host availability align to support questing behavior.

Early summer (late April – early June): temperatures rise above 10 °C and relative humidity stays above 70 %, prompting vigorous questing.
Mid‑summer (mid‑June – late July): consistent warmth (15‑25 °C) and abundant wildlife maintain high tick activity.
Late summer (early – mid August): before the onset of desiccation, ticks intensify host seeking, increasing bite probability.

Risk diminishes as temperatures exceed 30 °C and humidity drops below 50 %, conditions that trigger diapause and reduce questing. Monitoring these intervals allows targeted preventive measures.

Low-Risk Periods

Ticks reduce activity during the hottest hours of the day, creating brief intervals when the likelihood of encountering an active tick is minimal. These intervals correspond to the peak of solar radiation and ambient temperature, typically between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. When surface temperatures exceed 30 °C (86 °F) and relative humidity drops below 40 %, ticks enter a state of reduced questing behavior to avoid desiccation.

Low‑risk periods also occur during prolonged dry spells. In regions where summer precipitation falls below 10 mm per week, ticks remain concealed in leaf litter and soil microhabitats, limiting their movement to the surface. The combination of high temperature, low humidity, and limited moisture availability suppresses host‑seeking activity.

Key characteristics of these periods:

Midday heat (approximately 12 – 4 p.m.) with temperatures > 30 °C.
Relative humidity < 40 % during the same timeframe.
Continuous dry conditions lasting several days to a week.
Absence of recent rainfall (≤ 10 mm weekly).

During early morning (before 8 a.m.) and late evening (after 7 p.m.) ticks may resume activity if temperature and humidity return to favorable levels. Awareness of the specific climatic thresholds above allows precise identification of times when the probability of tick contact is lowest.

Personal Protection Strategies

Repellents and Clothing

Ticks typically reduce activity in the hottest, driest part of the summer. During this period, human exposure can still occur because some species remain active in shaded or moist microhabitats. Effective protection relies on chemical repellents and appropriate clothing.

Chemical repellents that maintain efficacy under high temperatures include:

DEET formulations at 20‑30 % concentration; proven to repel Ixodes and Amblyomma species for up to 8 hours.
Picaridin (KBR 3023) at 20 % concentration; comparable to DEET with reduced skin irritation.
Permethrin‑treated clothing; applied at 0.5 % concentration, provides residual activity after multiple washes.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) at 30 % concentration; effective for short‑term outdoor activities.

Clothing recommendations for summer tick avoidance:

Wear long‑sleeved shirts and full‑length trousers made of tightly woven fabric; polyester or nylon reduce tick attachment.
Tuck shirts into pants and secure pant legs with elastic cuffs or gaiters to eliminate gaps.
Choose light‑colored garments; ticks are more visible on contrasting backgrounds, facilitating removal.
Apply permethrin spray to all outerwear, boots, and hats; re‑treat after washing according to label instructions.
Avoid loose, breathable fabrics such as linen that allow ticks to crawl through seams.

Combining high‑efficacy repellents with properly designed clothing minimizes the risk of tick bites even when tick activity declines during summer heat. Regular inspection of exposed skin and prompt removal of any attached ticks remain essential components of an integrated defense strategy.

Yard Management

Ticks become inactive during the hottest, driest interval of the summer season, a period known as summer aestivation. The transition to dormancy occurs when soil surface temperatures consistently exceed roughly 30 °C (86 °F) and ambient humidity drops below about 50 %. Under these conditions, ticks reduce feeding activity and seek protected microhabitats such as leaf litter, rodent burrows, or shaded soil layers.

Yard management directly shapes the environmental cues that trigger or suppress this dormant phase. Effective practices include:

Keeping grass at a height of 3–4 inches; short turf raises soil temperature and improves sunlight penetration, encouraging earlier dormancy.
Removing accumulated leaf litter and woody debris; eliminating moist refuges reduces humidity and discourages tick survival.
Pruning dense shrubbery to increase airflow and sunlight exposure; drier, hotter microclimates accelerate the onset of inactivity.
Applying organic mulch sparingly and only in designated garden beds; excessive mulch retains moisture and may delay dormancy.
Establishing a barrier of gravel or wood chips around high‑traffic areas; the dry, warm substrate creates an environment unfavorable for active ticks.

By adjusting vegetation height, eliminating excess moisture, and managing shade, homeowners can influence the timing of tick dormancy and lower the risk of tick encounters during the peak summer months.

Public Health Considerations

Ticks enter a summer diapause when temperatures exceed optimal activity ranges and humidity drops below thresholds that support questing behavior. During this period, the likelihood of tick bites and transmission of pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum declines, but does not disappear. Public‑health agencies must adjust surveillance and prevention strategies to reflect the seasonal shift in tick activity.

Reduced questing leads to lower case counts of tick‑borne diseases in mid‑summer, yet residual risk persists in microhabitats that retain moisture, such as shaded leaf litter and riparian zones. Health officials should maintain public alerts and tick‑identification resources throughout the entire warm season, emphasizing that dormancy is incomplete and localized hotspots may still pose infection threats.

Key public‑health actions:

Continue active surveillance of tick populations and pathogen prevalence during the summer pause.
Issue targeted education for outdoor workers, hikers, and caregivers of at‑risk groups, highlighting the need for protective clothing and repellents even when overall activity wanes.
Preserve and monitor shaded, humid microenvironments where ticks may remain active, integrating these sites into risk‑mapping tools.
Adapt diagnostic testing protocols to account for delayed symptom onset that can follow bites occurring before the diapause period.

Climate trends that extend warm, dry conditions can lengthen the dormancy window, potentially compressing the period of peak tick activity. Public‑health planning must incorporate climate‑driven shifts to ensure timely allocation of resources, vaccination campaigns where applicable, and sustained community outreach throughout the entire season.