Tick activity and disease risk in New Hampshire peaks in which period?

• A. December to February
• B. Late spring to early summer
• C. August to September
• D. October to November

Answer: (B)

Ticks are most likely to transmit disease when the tiny nymphs are active, because their small size makes bites easy to miss and they’re responsible for a large share of pathogen transmission. In New Hampshire, this peak occurs in late spring to early summer. During these months, nymphs emerge from their overwintering period and quest high in vegetation, increasing encounters with people who are outdoors. While adults can be active in fall and spring, they’re larger and bites are more likely to be noticed and removed, so transmission risk is greatest when nymphs are abundant. December through February are typically cold and ticks are largely inactive, and August–September, though active, don’t drive disease risk as much as the nymphal peak.