Bug Identifier
Lone Star Tick
Community identification

Lone Star Tick

Amblyomma americanum

Order & Family
Order: Ixodida; Family: Ixodidae
Size
3 mm (unfed adult) to 12 mm (engorged)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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