Lone Star Tick
The lone star tick (*Amblyomma americanum*) is a hard tick native to North America.
The lone star tick (*Amblyomma americanum*) is a hard tick native to North America. It is an aggressive human-biting species found mainly in the eastern, southeastern, and south-central United States. The tick can transmit several diseases and trigger alpha-gal syndrome in some people.
Description
The lone star tick is a parasitic arachnid in the hard tick family. Adult females have a characteristic white spot on the dorsal shield, while males lack the single conspicuous spot but may have pale markings around the edges.
Distribution and habitat
This tick is widespread in the eastern and southeastern United States and also occurs farther north and west in some regions. It is commonly found in wooded areas, dense undergrowth, brushy habitats, and places where animals rest.
Hosts and life cycle
Lone star ticks feed on a wide range of hosts, including deer, cattle, dogs, birds, small mammals, and humans. They are three-host ticks, meaning each active life stage typically feeds on a different host.
Medical importance
The species can transmit ehrlichiosis, southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), tularemia, Heartland virus, and Bourbon virus. Its bites are also associated with alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to mammalian meat and sometimes other mammal-derived products.
Key facts
- The species is known for aggressive host-seeking behavior and frequent human bites.
- Adult females are identified by a white spot, which gives the species its common name.
- It is widely distributed in parts of the United States, especially the Northeast, South, and Midwest.
- Nymphs and adult females most often bite humans.
- It is associated with several tick-borne illnesses and with alpha-gal syndrome.
The lone star tick has mainly U.S. relevance, but Canadian readers may encounter it through travel or because its range has been reported near the Canada–U.S. border in some areas.
Frequently asked questions
What is a lone star tick?
Why is it called the lone star tick?
Where are lone star ticks found?
What diseases can lone star ticks spread?
Do lone star ticks transmit Lyme disease?
What is alpha-gal syndrome?
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/data-research/facts-stats/lone-star-tick-surveillance.htmlSupports: Distribution in the United States; aggressive biting behavior; female white spot; nymphs and adult females bite humans and spread disease.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/lone-star-tickSupports: Scientific name; North American hard tick; host range; diseases associated with the species; not a Lyme disease vector.
- PubMed Central — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8352541/Supports: Aggressive human-biting behavior; public-health importance; association with pathogens and alpha-gal syndrome.
- Texas A&M University — https://tickapp.tamu.edu/home/tick-identification/lone-star-tick/Supports: Distribution, hosts, three-host life cycle, and principal disease associations including ehrlichiosis and STARI.
- University of Rhode Island TickEncounter — https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/species/lone-star-tick/Supports: Habitat, life stages, disease associations, and alpha-gal syndrome.