Safety note: Check for ticks after outdoor activity.
The Lone Star Tick is named for the distinctive single white spot on the female's back. It is an aggressive, three-host tick that actively quests for hosts by crawling to the tips of grass blades and waving its forelegs — unlike most ticks that passively wait. Its saliva can trigger alpha-gal syndrome in humans, causing an allergy to red meat that may last years after the bite.
Habitat
Wooded areas, brushy fields, and suburban forests of the East and Southeast
Diet
All stages: blood of mammals, birds, and humans
How common
Common
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