Three ticks cause most of the bites people notice in much of the US: the blacklegged (deer) tick, the lone star tick and the American dog tick. Knowing which one you found tells you what to watch for afterward. Here's how to tell them apart, based on CDC information.
Blacklegged tick (deer tick)
- Looks like: small and dark, with black legs. Adult females have a dark shield behind the head and a reddish-orange body.
- Where: widely distributed across the eastern United States.
- Who bites: nymphs and adult females. Nymphs are tiny and easy to miss.
- When: the greatest risk is spring, summer and fall. Adults can be active on winter days above freezing.
- Linked to: Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus, among others.
Lone star tick
- Looks like: reddish-brown. Adult females have a single white dot, the "lone star," on the back.
- Where: widely distributed in the Northeast, South and Midwest.
- Who bites: nymphs and adult females. The CDC calls it "a very aggressive tick that bites humans."
- Linked to: ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland and Bourbon viruses, and STARI. Evidence also suggests its bite may trigger alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy.
American dog tick
- Looks like: brown with a mottled, whitish pattern on the shield behind the head. Larger than a deer tick.
- Where: widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains, with a related species in the West.
- Who bites: adult females are most likely to bite people.
- When: highest risk in spring and summer.
- Linked to: Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Why it helps to know
If you get sick after a bite, telling your doctor which tick it was, or bringing the tick itself, can help. That's why we recommend sealing any tick you remove in a small vial and noting the date.
The Tick-Away kit includes a laminated ID card with photos of all three ticks, a magnifier to see the markings, and a specimen vial to keep the tick. The card works without a cell signal.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you develop a rash or fever in the weeks after a tick bite, see your doctor. Source: CDC, Where Ticks Live.
