What are Lone Star ticks?
The lone star tick is one of the most easy to recognize ticks because of the bright white spot that is located on their backs. Males of this species also have very noticeable white lines around the top edge of their body, these markings are not as noticeable on the females. Before a blood meal the lone star tick is reddish-brown in color and about 1/6th-1/4 of an inch in length. After they feed and become engorged they turn and a slate-gray color and are about ½ an inch in length. Lone star ticks are found in Western Texas going Northward to Northern Missouri and eastward from Maine to the southern tip of Florida.
Why do I have them?
Adult lone star ticks often bite larger animals, including foxes, dogs, white-tailed deer and people. They are often introduced onto residential properties by wild animals. Lone star ticks cannot survive living in areas that have prolonged exposure to sunlight; because of this they are typically found living in areas of shad, along wooded areas, and amongst low-growing vegetation. Once on your property lone star ticks will hide out in these shaded dark areas until a new host happens along, which if proper precautions are not taken could be you, your kids, or pets.