While Hoosiers could encounter the lone star tick in any suitable habitat in the state, it is most typically found in the damp wooded areas in southern Indiana. In fact, this is the second most commonly encountered tick by humans, coming in right behind the dog tick.

One reason the lone star tick is the second most common tick found on humans is because it is the medium-sized species of the three we are focusing on. It is closer in size to the dog tick than the blacklegged tick. And, just like the other two types of ticks, the adult female is the largest of any of the lone star tick’s stages.

Lone star ticks have been linked to the spread of:

• Tick paralysis (adult female stage only)

• Rocky Mountain spotted fever

• Ehrlichiosis

• Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI)

• Alpha-gal allergy (which causes an allergic reactions to mammal products)

The following table outlines some basic characteristics of the lone star tick:

Stage	Appearance	Primary Host(s)	Most Active/Abundant Time Period Annually
Larval (a.k.a “seed ticks” or “turkey ticks”)	Light in color	Ground-dwelling birds; small mammals (e.g. rodents; large mammals (e.g. deer and livestock); Pets; Humans	In the spring and again in the fall
Nymphal	Light with some dark accents		Survive in the soil in winter, then are active April through July
Adult Male	A mixture of red-brown with some black patches		Survive in the soil in winter, then are active late March through June
Adult Female	Dark, red-brown color with a pearl-colored, vaguely star-shaped marking on her back; Longer mouthparts than the male

For a quick reference ID card for identifying the blacklegged tick, the lone star tick, and the American dog tick click here.

 For more information about various tips and strategies for preventing tick bites, visit our Prevention page.