Where are blacklegged ticks found?

Where are blacklegged ticks found?

• A. Deserts and arid regions
• B. Open oceans
• C. Forested and brushy habitats across the state with higher humidity
• D. Urban centers only

Answer: (C)

Blacklegged ticks need a moist, sheltered microclimate to survive. They thrive in forested and brushy areas where leaf litter, logs, and dense vegetation maintain higher humidity and offer camouflage and hosts. This type of habitat supports their life cycle, from larvae through adults, by providing frequent opportunities to latch onto passing hosts. Deserts and open oceans are far too dry or devoid of suitable hosts for these ticks, so they don’t inhabit those environments. Urban centers aren’t their exclusive home either; while they can occur in yards and parks with trees and brush, they’re most strongly associated with wooded, humid spaces. Therefore, the best description is forested and brushy habitats with higher humidity.

Blacklegged ticks need a moist, sheltered microclimate to survive. They thrive in forested and brushy areas where leaf litter, logs, and dense vegetation maintain higher humidity and offer camouflage and hosts. This type of habitat supports their life cycle, from larvae through adults, by providing frequent opportunities to latch onto passing hosts.

Deserts and open oceans are far too dry or devoid of suitable hosts for these ticks, so they don’t inhabit those environments. Urban centers aren’t their exclusive home either; while they can occur in yards and parks with trees and brush, they’re most strongly associated with wooded, humid spaces. Therefore, the best description is forested and brushy habitats with higher humidity.