Guide: How to identify some of the most common ticks in America
FOX Weather • • health
Key Points:
- Tickborne diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome are becoming more common as awareness and reported cases rise.
- The blacklegged (deer) tick, found mainly in the eastern U.S., transmits multiple illnesses including Lyme disease and Powassan virus, identifiable by its reddish-orange body and black shield.
- Other significant ticks include the American dog tick, which spreads Rocky Mountain spotted fever; the lone star tick, prevalent in the South and linked to alpha-gal syndrome; and the western blacklegged tick on the Pacific Coast, which also transmits Lyme disease.
- The Rocky Mountain wood tick and Gulf Coast tick carry serious diseases like Colorado tick fever and Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, while the brown dog tick is widespread and can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever to humans.
- The invasive Asian longhorned tick, first found in the U.S. in 2017, is less attracted to humans but is under study for its potential to transmit diseases domestically.
