Home/Lyme questions/Do mosquitoes carry Lyme disease
Quick answerDo mosquitoes carry Lyme disease?
Mosquito bites are itchy and annoying, but they are not how people get Lyme disease. Here is what actually spreads it.
Quick answer
No. Mosquitoes do not spread Lyme disease. CDC says there is no credible evidence that Lyme disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, flies, fleas or lice. In the United States, Lyme disease is spread by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, which usually must stay attached for more than 24 hours to pass on the bacteria.
- No credible evidence shows Lyme disease spreading through mosquitoes, flies, fleas or lice (CDC).
- Lyme disease is spread by infected blacklegged ticks in the East and Midwest and western blacklegged ticks on the Pacific coast.
- Infected ticks generally need to be attached for more than 24 hours to spread the infection.
Why ticks, not mosquitoes
Lyme bacteria are tied to blacklegged ticks. Young ticks pick up the bacteria when they feed on infected small animals, usually rodents, and keep it as they grow into their next life stage (CDC). When an infected tick later feeds on a person, it stays attached for a long time, and the bacteria usually need more than a day to pass into the skin.
That is why public health agencies such as CDC focus Lyme prevention on ticks, not mosquitoes. Learn more in what causes Lyme disease and ticks that carry Lyme disease.
What about other bugs?
CDC lists no credible evidence of Lyme spread by flies, fleas or lice either. Even among ticks, only some species matter. Lone star ticks, American dog ticks, Rocky Mountain wood ticks and brown dog ticks do not spread Lyme bacteria, though they can spread other diseases. If you were bitten by something other than a blacklegged tick, Lyme disease is not the concern, but tell your provider about any new symptoms.
Spotting a tick bite
- Ticks often stay attached. You may find a small dark speck on your skin. Nymphs, the stage behind most infections, are about the size of a poppy seed, and adults about the size of a sesame seed (CDC).
- Check hidden spots: under the arms, behind the knees, around the ears and hairline, and around the waist (CDC).
- The Lyme rash (erythema migrans) appears 3 to 30 days after a tick bite, about 7 days on average. It slowly expands, often to 12 inches or more, may feel warm, and is rarely itchy (CDC). See Lyme disease rash.
One routine for outdoor bites
CDC recommends EPA-registered repellents for ticks, with active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD or 2-undecanone. Many of the same products are sold as mosquito repellents, so check the label. Treat clothing and gear with permethrin, shower within two hours of coming inside, and do a full-body tick check. See Lyme disease prevention and our tick bite guide.
We are collecting real experiences about bug bites they mistook for something else 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.
Frequently asked questions
Can a mosquito bite give you Lyme disease?
No. CDC says there is no credible evidence of Lyme disease spreading through mosquitoes.
Can fleas or flies spread Lyme disease?
No credible evidence supports that (CDC). Lyme disease is spread by infected blacklegged ticks.
What bug carries Lyme disease?
The blacklegged (deer) tick in the East and Midwest and the western blacklegged tick on the Pacific coast.