Amblyomma americanum

• Also known as the Lone star tick
• Where found: Widely distributed in the southeastern and eastern United States.
• Transmits: Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii (which cause human ehrlichiosis), Heartland virus, tularemia, and STARI.
• Comments: A very aggressive tick that bites humans. The adult female is distinguished by a white dot or “lone star” on her back. Lone star tick saliva can be irritating; redness and discomfort at a bite site does not necessarily indicate an infection. The nymph and adult females most frequently bite humans and transmit disease.

Lone star tick (lone_star_tick.jpg)

Map of the United States showing the approximate distribution of the Lone Star tick. The area affected is the eatern half of the country.