First year

May-June

Adult females lay eggs and die.

July-Oct.

Larvae hatch and seek a blood meal, typically on a small rodent or bird. Larvae are born disease free and acquire pathogens from an infected host.

Oct.-April

Larvae molt into nymphs, stay dormant over winter.

Females typically lay 2,000-3,000 eggs in leaf litter.

FIRST BLOOD MEAL

White-footed mice often carry the Lyme bacteria.

Second year

May-Sept.

Nymphs become active and try to grab hold of a passing person or animal. Ticks can detect hosts through odors, body heat, moisture, vibrations, and visual cues.When infected nymphs feed, bacteria can migrate from tick to host; in most cases the tick must be attached for at least 36 hours to transmit pathogens. After feeding, nymphs drop off and molt into adults.

Sept.-Dec.

Females seek to feed once more before mating.

Jan.-Feb.

Adults remain active all winter on warm days.

Mar.-April

Adults that did not feed in the fall continue to seek a host.

SECOND BLOOD MEAL

Infected nymphs pass pathogens to humans.

THIRD BLOOD MEAL

A deer can carry a tick for miles.

SOURCES: TickEncounter.org; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

SOURCE: Kirby Stafford III, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Active months

The actual number of ticks present can vary from place to place and year to year.Chart shows when each stage is most prevalent wherever deer ticks are found.

Adults:Possibly infected but large enough to be seen

Nymphs:Tiny and infected

Larvae:Possibly infected

Adults:Possibly infected but large enough to be seen