In which regions are ticks found? - briefly
Ticks occur throughout the Northern Hemisphere—North America, Europe, and Asia—and are also established in temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere such as South America, Australia, and southern Africa. They favor humid habitats with vegetation, ranging from forests and grasslands to suburban yards.
In which regions are ticks found? - in detail
Ticks inhabit virtually every continent except Antarctica, thriving in environments that provide hosts, humidity, and moderate temperatures. Their presence spans temperate, subtropical, and tropical zones, with species adapted to local climatic and ecological conditions.
- North America – widespread in the United States and Canada, especially in the Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest; species such as Ixodes scapularis (black‑legged tick) dominate wooded and suburban areas, while Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) prefers open fields and grasslands.
- Europe – common throughout Western, Central, and Northern Europe; Ixodes ricinus (sheep tick) occupies forests, heathland, and meadow edges from the United Kingdom to Scandinavia and the Baltic states. Mediterranean regions host Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick) in warmer, drier habitats.
- Asia – extensive distribution from Siberia’s boreal forests to tropical Southeast Asia; Haemaphysalis longicornis (long‑horned tick) is prevalent in East Asian agricultural zones, while Amblyomma testudinarium occupies tropical rainforests of India, Thailand, and Indonesia.
- Africa – ticks occur across sub‑Saharan savannas, highland plateaus, and coastal forests; Rhipicephalus spp. dominate livestock‑rich grazing lands, whereas Amblyomma variegatum (tropical bont tick) favors humid lowlands and mangrove margins.
- South America – present in the Amazon basin, Andean foothills, and temperate Pampas; Amblyomma cajennense (Cayenne tick) is linked to forested river valleys, while Rhipicephalus microplus infests cattle throughout Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.
- Oceania – limited to Australia, New Zealand, and several Pacific islands; Ixodes holocyclus (Australian paralysis tick) inhabits coastal rainforests and eucalypt woodlands, whereas Rhipicephalus sanguineus is found in urban dog populations across the region.
Tick survival depends on relative humidity above 80 % and temperatures between 5 °C and 30 °C. Microhabitats that retain moisture—leaf litter, moss, low vegetation—serve as questing sites. Altitudinal limits vary by species: some temperate ticks persist up to 2,500 m in mountainous zones, while tropical species rarely exceed 1,200 m due to cooler, drier conditions at higher elevations.
Overall, tick distribution reflects a combination of climate suitability, host availability, and habitat structure, resulting in a global pattern that mirrors the diversity of terrestrial ecosystems.