Lone star tick A female lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) sporting the white dorsal spot that inspired its common name. (more) lone star tick arachnid Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/lone-star-tick Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Amblyomma americanum Written by Frannie Comstock Frannie Comstock is a writer based in Chicago. Frannie Comstock , Melissa Petruzzello Melissa Petruzzello is Assistant Managing Editor and covers a range of content including plants, algae, and fungi; insects and spiders; and renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles... Melissa Petruzzello •All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 21, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the lone star tick and where is it commonly found? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The lone star tick is a North American tick capable of transmitting diseases. It is typically found in wooded areas with white-tailed deer across the eastern, southeastern, and midwestern United States. Like other ticks, the lone star tick is a parasitic arachnid and feeds on the blood of a number of host animals, including humans." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What diseases can Lone Star ticks transmit to humans? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Lone star ticks can transmit alpha-gal syndrome, a food allergy to the meats and products of most mammals; Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI); and several potentially lethal diseases including tularemia, ehrlichiosis, and the recently discovered Heartland virus. It may also spread the novel Bourbon virus. It is not a vector for Lyme disease." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is alpha-gal syndrome and how is it caused? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic reaction to most mammalian meats and animal products. In the United States the syndrome can be triggered by the bite of a lone star tick; other ticks can cause the syndrome elsewhere in the world. The ticku2019s saliva contains alpha-gal, a sugar molecule also found in the tissues of all non-primate mammals. In some humans the tick bite triggers the immune system to produce antibodies against the molecule, leading to allergic reactions when consuming meats and animal products that also contain alpha-gal." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the life cycle of the lone star ticks? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Lone star ticks are parasites that feed on blood. They have four developmental stages: egg, six-legged larva (or u201Cseed ticku201D), nymph, and adult. They are considered a u201Cthree-host ticku201D because they attach to different animal hosts at each active developmental stage. Larvae and nymphs feed and then molt to the next stage. The ticks can survive for months or even years without feeding, and the life cycle is roughly two years. Adult males die shortly after mating. After consuming a final meal, females lay 3,000 to 8,000 eggs before dying." } } ] } Top Questions What is the lone star tick and where is it commonly found? The lone star tick is a North American tick capable of transmitting diseases. It is typically found in wooded areas with white-tailed deer across the eastern, southeastern, and midwestern United States. Like other ticks, the lone star tick is a parasitic arachnid and feeds on the blood of a number of host animals, including humans.

　　What diseases can Lone Star ticks transmit to humans? Lone star ticks can transmit alpha-gal syndrome, a food allergy to the meats and products of most mammals; Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI); and several potentially lethal diseases including tularemia, ehrlichiosis, and the recently discovered Heartland virus. It may also spread the novel Bourbon virus. It is not a vector for Lyme disease.

　　What is alpha-gal syndrome and how is it caused? Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic reaction to most mammalian meats and animal products. In the United States the syndrome can be triggered by the bite of a lone star tick; other ticks can cause the syndrome elsewhere in the world. The tick’s saliva contains alpha-gal, a sugar molecule also found in the tissues of all non-primate mammals. In some humans the tick bite triggers the immune system to produce antibodies against the molecule, leading to allergic reactions when consuming meats and animal products that also contain alpha-gal.

　　What is the life cycle of the lone star ticks? Lone star ticks are parasites that feed on blood. They have four developmental stages: egg, six-legged larva (or “seed tick”), nymph, and adult. They are considered a “three-host tick” because they attach to different animal hosts at each active developmental stage. Larvae and nymphs feed and then molt to the next stage. The ticks can survive for months or even years without feeding, and the life cycle is roughly two years. Adult males die shortly after mating. After consuming a final meal, females lay 3,000 to 8,000 eggs before dying.

　　lone star tick, (Amblyomma americanum), species of North American hard tick capable of transmitting a number of diseases to humans and other animals. They are typically found in wooded areas with white-tailed deer across the eastern, southeastern and midwestern United States. While lone star ticks do not spread Lyme disease, they are vectors for a number of pathogens and are particularly associated with alpha-gal syndrome, which causes an allergic reaction to meats including beef, pork, and lamb. Taxonomy See also list of arachnids. Lone star ticks are arachnids and have eight legs as nymphs and adults; the young larval stage ...(100 of 1151 words)

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