There are as many ticks this year as there were last year, but the greatest diversity and number of ticks have been observed in mixed forests where it is relatively light and grass grows on the ground; animal trails are particularly favoured, according to a study by the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment (BIOR), as entomologist Dr Voldemārs Spuņģis explained on the programme "Vilks dabā".

In Latvia, the most dangerous insect is the tick – it transmits diseases. Ticks have normal living conditions here. The temperature is high and there is plenty of moisture, so they are very active. Three species of tick bite humans – two are native and the third is an invasive species, the ornate cow tick.

"Many people think that there are more ticks this year than in other years, but that is not the case. There are the same number of ticks as in the previous year," noted Spuņģis. This was investigated in a three-year study by "Bior" on the distribution of ticks throughout Latvia. Various habitats were covered – forests, fields, pastures, dog walking areas and city parks.