Where do ticks go in the summer? - briefly
In warm months ticks retreat to moist microhabitats such as leaf litter, shaded vegetation, and rodent burrows where humidity remains high. These refuges protect them from desiccation until hosts become active again.
Where do ticks go in the summer? - in detail
During the warm months, ticks actively seek blood meals to complete their developmental stages. Their movement patterns are dictated by temperature, humidity, and the availability of suitable hosts.
Adult females of Ixodes ricinus, the most common European species, climb onto low vegetation such as grasses and shrub stems. This behavior, known as questing, positions them to latch onto passing mammals, birds, or reptiles. Questing height is limited to a few centimeters, matching the typical body size of their target hosts.
Nymphs and larvae perform similar upward migrations but remain closer to the ground. They exploit leaf litter, moss, and forest floor detritus where microclimatic conditions retain moisture. In areas with dense canopy, these stages may remain under leaf layers during the hottest part of the day, emerging during cooler, more humid periods.
When ambient temperature exceeds the species‑specific thermal tolerance (generally above 30 °C) or relative humidity drops below 70 %, ticks retreat to moist microhabitats. Common refuges include:
- Underneath fallen logs or rocks
- Inside rodent burrows
- Within humid soil cracks
- Beneath thick layers of leaf litter
These shelters reduce desiccation risk while maintaining access to potential hosts that regularly traverse the same microenvironment.
Seasonal host availability also influences tick distribution. In summer, deer, wild boar, and ground‑dwelling birds are most active, prompting ticks to concentrate in habitats frequented by these animals. Domestic pets, such as dogs and cats, can transport ticks from grasslands into residential gardens, extending the geographic reach of the insects.
Life‑stage specific behavior further refines movement:
- Eggs – remain in protected crevices on the ground until hatching.
- Larvae – seek small mammals or ground‑feeding birds; they often stay within the leaf litter matrix.
- Nymphs – target medium‑sized hosts; they ascend vegetation but may hide in shaded understory.
- Adults – prefer larger mammals; they position on higher vegetation to increase encounter rate.
Overall, summer tick activity is a balance between aggressive host pursuit and avoidance of lethal dehydration. Their seasonal migration patterns reflect the interplay of environmental conditions, host dynamics, and intrinsic physiological thresholds.