Lone Star Ticks

Behavior and Habitat of Lone Star Ticks

Lone Star ticks are three-host feeders, meaning that a host is fed during the larval, nymphal, and adult life stages, between molting. Although different hosts are fed upon, Lone Star ticks are, in general, aggressive and generalist feeders in all stages. Larval ticks prefer birds and smaller mammals, while nymphal ticks and adult ticks prefer small mammals or rodents and medium to large sized mammals, respectively. After the female feeds in the adult stage, she will begin depositing roughly 5,000 eggs in the soil. Once eggs hatch, larvae go through a resting period and then begin searching for a host through questing. Seasonality peaks at different times throughout different areas of the country, although the warmer climate of Florida may support year-round activity of Lone Star ticks. Lone Star ticks can be found on the east coast of the United States, from Maine to Florida, and as far west as Texas, north to Iowa and Nebraska. Lone Star ticks are usually found in heavily wooded areas, especially in areas with heavy underbrush that also have populations of white-tailed deer.