Lone Star Ticks (Amblyoma americanum)
Life Cycle
The lone star tick is found throughout the southeastern United States west to Texas and as far north as Rhode Island. Well-established populations can be found throughout most of New Jersey. Further north, dense populations can be found on Fire Island, NY, and also on Prudence Island, RI. Historically, extremely dense populations have been recorded from areas with suitable habitat and large populations of ungulates, specifically white-tailed deer and/or domestic cattle.
The earliest significant activity of lone star ticks begins when average ambient temperatures are above 50 degrees F (10 degrees C). Peak populations occur in June and then decline until almost none can be collected in September. Adult numbers peak in May and decline until the end of June. Nypmhal lone star ticks have a much longer period of activity and may occur from May through early August, with a peak in activity during May or June. The larvae first appear in late July and peak in early August. Larval activity may also continue until late September. These larvae result from female ticks that have successfully fed and mated with a male tick earlier that same spring. Upland oak-hickory forests will, normally, support large numbers of lone star ticks and be suitable for greater tick longevity. The largest numbers of adult and nymphal ticks are most commonly found between the meadows and main forest body (ecotonal areas) and are usually the result of secondary, old field succession.
Host Relationships
Amblyomma americanum adults are well-known to feed on large mammals, especially bovines and white-tailed deer. The immature stages of A. americanum (larvae and nymphs) are known to parasitize all sizes of mammals and birds; however, in many locations research as shown that larger animals tend to be more heavily infested than smaller animals.
The lone star tick has been implicated in the transmission cycles of several diseases including human ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI). The lone star tick is not able to transmit the bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi) that causes Lyme disease.
Page Last Updated: 4/5/2016 2:59:00 PM