Where do ticks sit? - briefly
Ticks are commonly found on low vegetation—grass, shrubs, leaf litter—where they await a passing host. Upon contact, they attach to hair or skin, typically in areas such as the neck, ears, and the undersides of the legs.
Where do ticks sit? - in detail
Ticks are ectoparasites that attach to a limited set of surfaces where they can locate a host, feed, and complete their life cycle.
On mammals and birds, ticks preferentially occupy areas with thin skin, abundant blood flow, and limited grooming. Common attachment sites include the scalp, neck, armpits, groin, behind the ears, and between the toes. In livestock, they concentrate on the udder, tail base, and hindquarters. Reptiles and amphibians host ticks on the ventral surface, limbs, and around the cloaca.
In the environment, ticks occupy microhabitats that maintain humidity above 80 % and provide a stable temperature range of 7‑25 °C. These conditions are found in:
- Leaf litter and forest floor detritus, where moisture is retained.
- Low-lying vegetation such as grasses, shrubs, and moss, especially at the base of plants.
- Forest edges and ecotones where hosts frequently travel.
- Animal nests and burrows that offer protection from desiccation.
Questing behavior places ticks on the tips of blades of grass or on low foliage, extending their forelegs to latch onto passing hosts. This posture is most prevalent during the late spring and early summer, coinciding with peak host activity.
Seasonal dynamics affect location. In summer, ticks retreat to shaded, humid microclimates to avoid overheating. During winter, they enter a dormant state within leaf litter or soil, emerging when temperatures rise.
Understanding these specific sites—both on hosts and in the surrounding habitat—enables accurate assessment of tick exposure risk and informs targeted control measures.