<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Red indicates where the species is normally found; Blue indicates other locations where the species has been reported </Td> </Tr> <P> Amblyomma americanum, also known as the Lone Star Tick, the Northeastern Water Tick, or the Turkey Tick, is a type of tick indigenous to much of the eastern United States and Mexico, that bites painlessly and commonly goes unnoticed, remaining attached to its host for as long as seven days until it is fully engorged with blood . It is a member of the phylum Arthropoda, class Arachnida . The adult lone star tick is sexually dimorphic, named for a silvery - white, star - shaped spot or "lone star" present near the center of the posterior portion of the adult female shield (scutum); adult males conversely have varied white streaks or spots around the margins of their shields . A. americanum is also referred to as the turkey tick in some Midwestern U.S. states, where wild turkeys are a common host for immature ticks . It is the primary vector of Ehrlichia chaffeensis, which causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis, and Ehrlichia ewingii, which causes human and canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis . Other disease - causing bacterial agents isolated from lone star ticks include Francisella tularensis, Rickettsia amblyommii, and Coxiella burnetti . </P> <P> The lone star tick is widely distributed across the East, Southeast, and Midwest United States . It lives in wooded areas, particularly in second - growth forests with thick underbrush, where white - tailed deer (the primary host of mature ticks) reside . Lone star ticks can also be found in ecotonal areas (transition zones between different biomes) such as those between forest and grassland ecosystems . The lone star tick utilizes thick underbrush or high grass to attach to its host by way of questing . Questing is an activity in which, in response to stimuli from biochemicals such as carbon dioxide or heat and vibration from movement, the tick climbs up a blade of grass or to the edges of leaves and stretches its front legs forward, mounting the passing host as it brushes against the tick's legs . Once attached to its host, the tick is able to move around and select a preferred feeding site . </P> <P> The tick follows the normal development stages of egg, larva, nymph and adult . It is known as a 3 - host tick, meaning that it feeds from a different host during the larval, nymphal, and adult stages . The lone star tick attaches itself to a host by way of questing . </P>

Where can the lone star tick be found