Ticks are killed by cold weather

False. I. ricinus ticks can survive long, cold winters by hiding in the soil and the deep litter layer of dead leaves etc. Snow cover can act as an insulating blanket against very cold temperatures but their survival rate is adversely affected by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, and is dependent upon the tick’s developmental stage and feeding status. Nymphs and adults may resist freezing temperatures well below -7 ºC, whereas eggs and larvae, especially if fed, are slightly more sensitive to the cold (reviewed by (25)).