Adult Female Lone Star Tick
Amblyomma americanum

The lone star tick Amblyomma americanum, is found primarily in the southern and south central US. It is a reddish-brown species and the common hosts include a wide variety of mammals, including humans, and ground feeding birds. The adult females have a distinct white spot on their back and males have white markings around the outside of their back. This tick species can transmit ehrlichiosis, Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia.