How long does a moose tick live? - briefly
The adult moose tick generally lives up to two years, completing its life cycle in roughly one year with larvae and nymphs overwintering on hosts or in the environment. Under optimal conditions a few individuals may survive slightly longer, but most do not exceed the two‑year limit.
How long does a moose tick live? - in detail
The moose tick, commonly identified as «Dermacentor albipictus», completes its life cycle within a single year. Adult females attach to a host in late summer, feed for several days, then detach to lay up to 3 000 eggs on the forest floor. Eggs hatch in about two weeks, producing larvae that remain dormant through winter. In spring, larvae ascend vegetation, quest for a host, and attach for a brief feeding period of 3–5 days. After detachment, they molt into nymphs, which similarly quest and feed for 5–7 days before molting into adults. The adult stage persists for approximately 2–3 months, during which females reproduce once before dying.
Key factors influencing longevity:
- Temperature: development accelerates above 10 °C; extreme heat shortens adult survival.
- Humidity: larvae and nymphs require moist microhabitats; desiccation reduces survival rates.
- Host availability: successful blood meals are essential for progression to the next stage; scarcity can prolong the dormant phases.
Overall, from egg deposition to adult death, the species typically occupies a twelve‑month interval, with the adult phase constituting the longest continuous period of activity.