Why are there many ticks in spring? - briefly
Spring warmth and increasing humidity trigger tick development and questing behavior, while the emergence of small mammals and birds provides abundant hosts for feeding and reproduction. Consequently, tick populations surge during this season.
Why are there many ticks in spring? - in detail
The increase in tick populations during the spring months results from several interrelated biological and environmental factors.
Warmer temperatures raise metabolic rates, accelerating development from egg to larva and from larva to nymph. Temperatures between 10 °C and 20 °C are optimal for these stages, allowing rapid progression through the life cycle.
Higher humidity levels in spring reduce desiccation risk. Ticks rely on moist microhabitats—leaf litter, low vegetation, and shaded ground—to maintain water balance. Elevated ambient moisture enables longer periods of questing, the behavior in which ticks climb vegetation to attach to passing hosts.
Host availability peaks as many mammals and birds emerge from winter dormancy or increase activity. Adult females feed on larger mammals, while larvae and nymphs prefer small rodents and ground-dwelling birds. The surge in host density provides abundant blood meals, supporting higher survival and reproduction rates.
Photoperiod changes trigger physiological responses. Increasing daylight stimulates questing behavior, prompting ticks to ascend vegetation at the appropriate height for each life stage.
Vegetation growth creates dense understory, offering both shelter from predators and a platform for questing. Fresh growth also retains moisture, further enhancing survival conditions.
Collectively, these factors—optimal temperature, sufficient humidity, abundant hosts, longer daylight, and expanded vegetation—synchronize to produce a marked rise in tick numbers during the spring season.