How Long Do Ticks Live: Ticks Uncovered!

Want to know how long do ticks live? These tough individuals are able to live for a long time without a host. Moreover, it has been found that some tick species can survive for as long as three years. They undergo a four-stage process during the lifecycle. The lifespan is directly related to the species, climatic conditions, and the number of hosts available.

Ticks are more comfortable in places where the moisture is high. Thus, if you want to have a safe place without ticks, you have to take care of your yards and houses throughout the season.

How long do ticks live?

Life span of ticks mainly depends on their species and the stage they have reached. For example, the American dog tick usually lives about two years and blacklegged ticks can survive for up to three years.

Throughout their whole life, ticks go through the four main stages of their development: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. The feeding of blood is necessary for every stage besides the egg to continue to the next one.

In spring, adult female ticks deposit thousands of eggs and it takes up to 60 days for the eggs to hatch. The lifespan of a tick without food changes during the stage of its life. Larvae are capable of living without food for a period of 3 to 5 months and for some species the period can be as long as three years in order to reach complete maturity. Tick larvae, usually called seed ticks, are able to survive without a host for a number of months, and some species were reported to last as long as eight months.

It is difficult to tell the exact period of life for a tick because the timespan may vary from a few months to more than a year without a meal. If nymphs do not get any food during the first season, some of them are able to last without a blood meal not only through the first but also the second season. Adult ticks possess the best survivability. American dog ticks are the most durable in that they can go without food for two to three years, and cases with the longest survival of 1,053 days have been reported.

Environmental factors that Affect How Long Do Ticks Live

Temperature and humidity- These are the main factors that determine the life span of a tick. Ticks rely on humidity of about 85% or higher for their best survival. Try to keep the surroundings warm and dry as it makes them lose water rapidly hence their life span is shortened. Cooler temperatures make ticks decrease their metabolism as well.

The blacklegged tick life cycle generally takes two years during which the eggs and larvae grow in one year and the nymphs and adults the next year.

Seasons that Affect Tick Lifespan

In the winter period, ticks become inactive or enter a state of hibernation which means that they can survive without feeding for a longer time. Therefore, tick populations are able to survive throughout the changing unfavorable seasons.

Different tick species have different survival characteristics. Unfed American dog tick larvae can reside for a period equalling 15 months, nymphs for 20 months, and adults for 30 months without food. It is also important to understand that the duration for which ticks can exist without a host is species dependent and ranges from as little as 24 hours for ones that require immediate feeding to as long as two years for the most resilient ones, such as the American dog tick.

How to get rid of ticks

I am giving you 4 most effective solutions:

1. Trim your landscape. This may be quite effective since it can also clear the hiding places of the animals. Trim shrubs and trees to enable more sunlight to enter your yard thereby lowering the level of humidity. This might decrease the survival of ticks. The main factor of how to get rid of ticks is that ticks will not have the preferred places if you do consistent yard maintenance.
2. Make use of barriers- Set up three-foot wide barriers to stop tick migration.
3. Eliminate bird feeders or keep them clean to prevent rodents that carry ticks. Do not let animals from street enter your yard or your home.
4. Apply DEET-based repellents on skin. Do tick checks within two hours of being outdoors, paying attention to armpits, hair, etc. The process of removing ticks off your body is by detecting them early and removing them with fine-tipped tweezers.

Conclusion

In order to be successful, one should implement different strategies regularly rather than concentrate on a single solution. Preventive measures will protect you and your pets against these dangerous parasites that continue to threaten the health of the population in the United States.