Where do ticks spend the winter in nature? - briefly
During winter, ticks occupy insulated microhabitats such as leaf litter, soil, low vegetation, bark crevices, or rodent burrows. They remain in a dormant diapause until temperatures become favorable.
Where do ticks spend the winter in nature? - in detail
Ticks survive the cold season by entering a state of dormancy known as diapause. During this period they seek protected microhabitats that buffer against freezing temperatures and desiccation. The most common refuges include:
- Leaf litter and forest floor detritus, where insulating layers of dead leaves maintain higher humidity and moderate temperature fluctuations.
- Soil just below the surface, typically within the top few centimeters, which remains above the frost line in many temperate regions.
- Under bark or within crevices of fallen logs, providing shelter from wind and precipitation while retaining moisture.
- Dense vegetation such as low shrubs or grass tussocks, which trap heat and reduce exposure to direct sunlight.
In open habitats, ticks may also occupy the undersides of stones or accumulate in rodent burrows and other animal nests that offer stable microclimates. Species-specific preferences exist; for example, Ixodes ricinus often overwinter in humid leaf litter, whereas Dermacentor variabilis may be found deeper in the soil.
The selection of overwintering sites is driven by two critical factors: temperature moderation and humidity maintenance. Locations that stay above the lethal freezing point and prevent dehydration enable ticks to resume activity as soon as ambient conditions become favorable in spring. Consequently, the distribution of winter shelters directly influences tick population dynamics and the timing of disease transmission cycles.