Objective To investigate the species, geographic distribution, and seasonalality of ticks in Henan province, China. Methods The specimens of free ticks and ectoparasitic ticks were collected with white cloth from grassland and picked from animals'body surfaces, respectively, throughout Henan province from 2011 to 2012. Results Eight species of ticks belonging to 6 genera and 2 families were found in the province. These ticks were Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. phasiana, H. flava, Rhipicephalus microplus, Dermacentor sinicus, Ixodes sinensis, Hyalomma detritum, and Argas reflexus. H. longicornis was distributed throughout the whole province and was the dominant species of ticks in Henan. It was found first in March or April, achieved the highest density in July or August, and became dormant after October. After winter, it reappeared in March or April of the next year. Conclusion There are relatively abundant species of ticks in Henan and they are widely distributed in the province. The activity peak of H. longicornis is in summer and autumn.