Sources & credibility

Background on how tick presence is tracked across the United States.

The Lone Star tick is widely distributed in the Northeast, South, and Midwest U.S.

County-level established vs. reported records. 'Established' = 6+ ticks or multiple life stages collected in 12 months.

Every county's status: Established (6 or more ticks, or more than one life stage, found in a year), Reported (fewer), or No records. Linked from CDC's Lone Star Tick Surveillance page.

Tick collection in Biltmore Forest, Buncombe County, found five Lone Star ticks among 373 ticks.

What alpha-gal syndrome is, symptoms, and its association with tick bites.

Diagnosis is made by a licensed clinician; testing decisions are clinical.

Highest suspected-AGS prevalence across a contiguous southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic region; most cases align with the established Lone Star tick range.

South Carolina has established lone star tick populations but fewer suspected AGS cases than its neighboring states.

Bacterial illness transmitted primarily by the Lone Star tick; treatable with prompt antibiotics.

Rare virus associated with Lone Star tick bites; no specific antiviral treatment.

Rare tickborne virus first identified in the U.S. in 2014; supportive care only.

Bacterial illness that can be spread by tick bites (including the Lone Star tick) and other routes.

Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) follows some Lone Star tick bites; cause not established and it is not Lyme disease.

Spread by blacklegged (deer) ticks, NOT the Lone Star tick. Early sign is often an expanding erythema migrans rash.

Spread by American dog, Rocky Mountain wood, and brown dog ticks. Most US cases are in South-Central states; can be fatal without prompt doxycycline.

Spread by blacklegged and western blacklegged ticks; treatable with prompt antibiotics.

A parasitic infection of red blood cells spread mainly by the blacklegged tick, concentrated in the Northeast and upper Midwest.

A rare but serious virus spread by blacklegged ticks; can be transmitted within hours and has no specific treatment.

Step-by-step guidance for removing an attached tick.

Search tool for EPA-registered repellents (DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus).

Guidance on permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

Ticks are active from April through September.

Nymphs are active May through early August; adults April through the end of June.

Primarily found in the southern half of Illinois; most active from April through the end of July.

Lone star tick: active late February through fall.

Tick-borne illnesses are most often transmitted between early spring and late fall. Alpha-gal syndrome is among emerging tickborne diseases DPH is watching, though cases are rarely reported in Georgia.

Ticks are most active in early spring through late fall; tick-borne illnesses are reported year-round in Alabama.

Ticks are most active in spring, summer and early fall in North Carolina.

Most infections occur from late spring through early fall, when ticks are most active.

AGS is primarily associated with the lone star tick, which is rarely found in Minnesota.

A heavy population of the lone star tick was detected at Manresa Island in South Norwalk.

Find your state or local health department for region-specific guidance.

Tick identification, prevention, and reporting resources.

University extension guide to the Lone Star tick's markings, life stages and seasons.

Lone star ticks are active from March through September.

The lone star tick is Florida's most common human-biting tick. Ticks are active year-round; activity peaks between April and August.

In New Jersey, adults are active April to mid-June, nymphs April to July, and larvae July to September.

Lone star ticks can now be found across Pennsylvania, but are often patchily distributed.

Adults are active April to late August. Larvae typically latch on by the hundreds. Rhode Island reports have mostly been confined to Prudence Island.

Fairly abundant in Iowa in recent years, especially in the southern half; most active in May and June.

Lone star tick adults April to late August; nymphs May to early August; larvae July to late September.

The lone star tick has become common in the eastern half of Kansas.

Georgia's lone star tick is the state's most common tick.

Lone star ticks are especially active from early spring through fall.

Adults peak March to May; nymphs April to June and July to August; larvae June to August.

Wisconsin does not have a widely established population of lone star ticks.

Amblyomma americanum used to be uncommon in southern Ohio, but has increased in numbers and range.

Peer-reviewed clinical review of how alpha-gal syndrome presents, is diagnosed and is managed.

Ecological niche modeling of Amblyomma americanum range and projected northward expansion.

Adults were collected mainly March to June, nymphs March to August, larvae July to September.

Lone star ticks have been found sporadically in Maine since the 1990s, but established populations have not been identified.