TICKS:
Common Ticks of the Southeast
Throughout the southeastern United States there are five species of ticks that are commonly encountered but several more that live in this range. Below we list the species of tick, it’s common name, and diseases each tick species is known to vector.
Lone Star Tick
Amblyomma americanum
Photo: CDC
Known vector of:
Tularemia
Heartland virus
Bourbon virus
Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI)
Ehrlichiosis
Associated with:
Meat allergy/alpha-gal
Blacklegged Tick
Ixodes scapularis
Photo: CDC
Known vector of:
Lyme disease
Anaplasmosis
Borrelia miyamotoi
Ehrlichiosis
Babesiosis
Powassan disease
American Dog Tick
Dermacentor variabilis
Photo: CDC
Known vector of:
Tularemia
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Asian Longhorned Tick
Haemaphysalis longicornis
Photo: CDC
Known vector of:
Not currently known to vector pathogens to humans in the United States (US)
The Asian longhorned tick was first found in the US in 2017. Since then, researchers have been working to understand the dynamics of this tick from where it can be found in the US to the risk it may be to humans and other animals.
Click here to learn more about the Asian longhorned tick on the CDC’s website
Tick Life Cycles
Tick life cycles vary depending on which tick species and where in the world the tick is found. Most ticks in the Southeast are have four life stages: eggs, six-legged larvae, nymphs and adults. Different species of ticks also may use different hosts, or the same type of host for their blood meals in between life stages.
Ticks of different life stages and species can be different sizes especially if they are engorged from a blood meal.
Photo: CDC
Here is an example of the blacklegged tick life cycle over several seasons
Photo: CDC
Here is an example of the brown dog ticks life cycle and the transmission of Rickettsia rickettsii which causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Photo: CDC