How long does a tick stay engorged? - briefly
An engorged tick generally stays attached for 2‑5 days before detaching, though some species may remain for up to a week. The exact duration depends on the tick’s life stage and environmental conditions.
How long does a tick stay engorged? - in detail
Ticks remain in the engorged state for a period that varies with species, life stage, host size, and ambient temperature. After attachment, a tick progresses through three feeding phases: early attachment (24–48 hours), rapid expansion (48–96 hours), and full engorgement. Once fully engorged, the arthropod detaches and seeks a sheltered environment to complete its life cycle.
- Ixodes scapularis (black‑legged/deer tick) – adult females typically feed for 3–5 days. After reaching maximum weight, they drop off within 12–24 hours.
- Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) – adult females feed for 5–7 days; detachment occurs 1–2 days after maximal engorgement.
- Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick) – adult females require 5–10 days of feeding; they leave the host 24–48 hours after full engorgement.
- Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick) – adult females feed for 7–10 days; detachment follows 1–2 days post‑engorgement.
Key factors influencing the post‑engorgement interval:
- Temperature – higher ambient temperatures accelerate metabolism, shortening the time between engorgement and drop‑off.
- Host grooming behavior – frequent grooming can force earlier detachment.
- Tick health – well‑nourished individuals tend to remain attached longer to complete egg development.
- Environmental humidity – low humidity may prompt earlier descent to a protected microhabitat.
During the engorged phase, ticks increase body mass up to 100‑fold, expanding from a few milligrams to several hundred milligrams. The rapid weight gain is driven by blood ingestion, which fuels egg maturation in females. After detachment, the tick seeks a dry, protected site (leaf litter, crevices, or rodent burrows) where it will lay eggs within 1–2 days. The entire post‑engorgement period, from maximum swelling to egg deposition, generally spans 2–4 days, though extreme environmental conditions can extend or compress this window.