
Community identification
Lone Star Tick
Amblyomma americanum
- Order & Family
- Order: Ixodida; Family: Ixodidae
- Size
- 3 mm (unfed adult) to 12 mm (engorged)
Natural Habitat
Wooded areas, tall grasses, and fields across the United States
Diet & Feeding
Blood from mammals (including humans, deer, and dogs) and birds
Behavior Patterns
Uses questing behavior by climbing blades of grass to wait for a host to pass by
Risks & Benefits
Can transmit ehrlichiosis, Heartland virus, and Tularemia; may cause alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy) in humans