Lone Star Tick
Category Ticks
Actual Size: 4-6 mm before feeding; up to ½ inch (16 mm) when engorged
Characteristics: Oval-shaped. Reddish-brown in color, becoming slate-gray when engorged. Female has distinctive white dot in the middle of its body.
Legs: Juveniles have 6 legs; adults have 8 legs
Antennae: No
Wings: No
Habitat: Usually found in overgrown areas and near animal populations.
Habits:
- Feed for anywhere from a week to three weeks.
- Bites can be painless and may go unnoticed for days.
- Can cause people to develop an allergy to red meat.
Lone Star Ticks in Florida
The lone star tick is usually found in the East, Southeast, and Midwest regions of the US – and has been reported in regions of Mexico, South America, and Canada. It previously stuck to the warmer southern regions of the US, but as temperatures have warmed, it has crept its way north.
Bites from the lone star tick may go unnoticed or come with mild irritation and itching. If not detected and removed, the tick will remain attached for around a week, until it has had its fill. The lone star tick is considered “incompetent” to transmit Lyme disease, but it can transmit many other diseases, such as tularemia, ehrlichiosis, and STARI – and, most famously, a molecule that can cause humans to develop a red meat allergy.
Lone Star Tick Habitat
Lone star ticks, like any other tick, are usually found in areas “off the beaten path,” where tall grass and shrubs are more common. It is known to latch onto large mammals, including cattle and deer, but it isn’t picky; the lone star tick will grab any living thing it can reach. They can’t jump or fly; they rely on other animals brushing past their place and picking them up.
Cats and dogs may bring it indoors, which adds another way it can reach human hosts. When your pet comes inside, make sure to check it carefully for parasitic hitchhikers. Look behind the ears, under collars, and between paw pads. If you find a tick, remove it carefully with tweezers; grasp the tick as close to its head as possible and pull without twisting.
Lone Star Tick Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers
The primary danger from the lone star tick is the sugar called alpha-gal. This sugar is not normally found in humans; the ticks ingest it when they feed on other animals, including livestock. Alpha-gal can be transferred to humans when a tick bites an animal with the sugar in its system and then bites a human. Once alpha-gal is in a person’s system, they will become allergic to red meat, which also contains alpha-gal.
Allergy symptoms can range from minor itching and hives to a dangerous, life-threatening anaphylactic shock. If you find a lone star tick on your body, remove it carefully with tweezers and save it in a container for testing. If you feel unwell after a tick bite of any kind, seek medical attention promptly.
For more information, contact Arrow Environmental Services – your local tick control experts. We’ll get you started with a free inspection and evaluation.