Ticks can jump/fly

False. Ticks spend most of their time on the ground restoring water balance, moulting to the next instar (the phase between moults), or in diapause (a period of dormancy awaiting more favourable environmental conditions). Larvae normally stay closer to the ground as they are more sensitive to ambient humidity than nymphs and adults (60).

Most species of ticks wait for a host in nests. I. ricinus ticks quest for hosts using an ‘ambush’ technique whereby they climb up vegetation and wait for a host to brush past (5). Once on the host, they crawl to find a place to attach and feed for a few days.

However, ticks can drop from trees (they can be carried up there by birds, squirrels etc) (L. Gilbert personal communication.) Furthermore, due to their small size (specially the larvae), they can probably be blown by strong winds from vegetation for very short distances.