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Tick guideLone Star Tick: Range, Alpha-gal and What It Does (and Does Not) Spread
The lone star tick is an aggressive biter across the South, East and Midwest. It does not spread Lyme disease, but it is linked to ehrlichiosis, a Lyme-like rash called STARI, and alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy.
Quick answer
The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is a reddish-brown tick named for the single white spot on the adult female’s back. CDC says it is widespread in the Northeast, South and Midwest and bites people readily. It cannot spread Lyme disease, but it can spread ehrlichiosis and other infections, and its bites are linked to alpha-gal syndrome.
CDC states that the lone star tick does not transmit Lyme disease bacteria, though it can spread other tickborne diseases. CDC lists ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland virus disease and Bourbon virus disease, and notes that a circular rash called STARI sometimes follows its bites. CDC also says the lone star tick is the species most often associated with alpha-gal syndrome in the U.S.
What it looks like
The University of Maine Tick Lab describes the adults this way:
- Adult female: about 1/4 inch long unfed and 1/2 inch or more when fully fed. Reddish-brown to tan, with one spot in the middle of the back that can be white, cream or bronze and may look shiny up close.
- Adult male: light-colored patterns along the outer edges of the body instead of a single central spot.
- Body shape: rounder than most other ticks.
Nymphs and larvae are much smaller and harder to identify by eye. CDC notes that nymphs and adult females are the stages that bite people most often. If you can’t tell what bit you, save the tick or take a clear photo. Our tick testing guide explains identification options.
Lone star tick range
CDC describes the lone star tick as widespread in the Northeast, South and Midwest. Its Tickborne Diseases manual for clinicians adds that it is more common in the South. It lives in woodlands with thick undergrowth and along rivers and streams near places where animals rest, according to the University of Maine. White-tailed deer are its most common host at every life stage.
Is the range changing? In New England, the University of Maine reports that the lone star tick now reaches southern and coastal Maine and, while still uncommon there, is being found more often than in the past. For a wider view, see where ticks live.
Is the lone star tick in California?
CDC’s range description does not include the West Coast. At an April 2022 advisory committee meeting, California Department of Public Health staff said the department does not consider the lone star tick established in California, because it does not meet CDC’s criteria for an established population. They noted that ticks found in the state may have been carried in from elsewhere on people or belongings. In California, the tick that matters for Lyme disease is the western blacklegged tick.
When it is active
CDC’s clinician manual puts the greatest bite risk from early spring through late fall.
CDC calls this a very aggressive tick toward people. It also notes that lone star tick saliva can irritate the skin, so some redness at the bite does not necessarily mean infection.
What it spreads, and what it does not
Per CDC, the lone star tick can spread:
- Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. ewingii)
- Tularemia
- Heartland virus disease
- Bourbon virus disease
STARI. Southern tick-associated rash illness is a rash that can follow a lone star tick bite and looks a lot like the Lyme disease rash. CDC’s manual says its cause is unknown, there is no blood test for it, and spread through the body has not been reported. If you get any expanding rash after a bite, a clinician should look at it. See our Lyme disease rash page for comparison.
Not Lyme. CDC is clear that lone star ticks cannot transmit the Lyme disease bacteria. For more on other tick infections, see our co-infections hub.
Lone star tick and alpha-gal syndrome
Alpha-gal syndrome is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergy to alpha-gal, which is found in red meat and other products made from mammals. CDC says it can develop after a tick bite, and the lone star tick is the species most often linked to it in the U.S. A few cases have followed blacklegged tick bites, and more research is needed. CDC identified more than 110,000 suspected cases from 2010 to 2022 and says as many as 450,000 people may be affected. Most reported cases are in the South, East and central states, where lone star ticks live.
Our alpha-gal syndrome guide covers symptoms, testing and daily life with the allergy.
If a lone star tick bites you
Remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight up. Our tick bite guide covers how, and the first 72 hours after a tick bite explains what to write down and what to watch for.
See a healthcare provider if you develop fever, headache, muscle aches, an expanding rash or unusual tiredness in the weeks after a bite. Seek emergency care for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or fainting.
Prevention
Because lone star ticks seek out people, prevention is worth the effort: use repellent, wear long pants in brushy areas, and check yourself, kids and pets carefully afterward.
Prevention is step one of our plan to beat Lyme together.
We are collecting real experiences about lone star tick bites and alpha-gal syndrome from people who have lived it, shared with their permission. As stories come in, they will appear here, clearly marked as personal experience rather than medical advice.
At a glance
| Scientific name | Amblyomma americanum |
|---|---|
| Size | Adult female about 1/4 inch unfed |
| Key marks | Female: one white or cream spot; male: pale patterns around edges |
| Range | Northeast, South and Midwest; most common in the South |
| Peak bite risk | Early spring through late fall |
| Spreads Lyme? | No (per CDC) |
| Linked to | Ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland and Bourbon viruses, STARI, alpha-gal syndrome |
Compare it with the blacklegged (deer) tick and American dog tick, see which ticks carry Lyme disease, or browse all types of ticks.
Frequently asked questions
Can a lone star tick give you Lyme disease?
No. CDC says lone star ticks cannot transmit the Lyme disease bacteria. They can spread other infections, such as ehrlichiosis, and are linked to STARI and alpha-gal syndrome.
Are there lone star ticks in California?
As of a 2022 public meeting, the California Department of Public Health said it does not consider the lone star tick established in California. CDC describes its range as the Northeast, South and Midwest.
Does every lone star tick bite cause alpha-gal syndrome?
No. CDC describes alpha-gal syndrome as something that can develop after a tick bite, with the lone star tick the species most often linked to it. CDC says more research is needed on how ticks cause it.
How far north has the lone star tick spread?
CDC lists it in the Northeast as well as the South and Midwest. The University of Maine reports it in southern and coastal Maine, where it is still uncommon but found more often than in the past.
Sources
- CDC: Where Ticks Live
- CDC: Tickborne Diseases of the United States, A Reference Manual for Healthcare Providers, 6th ed. (2022)
- CDC: How Lyme Disease Spreads
- CDC: About Alpha-gal Syndrome
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab: Lone Star Tick
- CDPH Lyme Disease Advisory Committee meeting minutes, April 22, 2022 (PDF)