Lone-star ticks are easily distinguishable by a single white dot that is found on the adult female. Their bodies are covered in a reddish brown color and are round shaped, with noticeable festoons.
A lone-star tick’s life cycle is like many of the other well-known ticks, having a total of 4 stages to complete in a lifetime. Lone-star ticks enjoy attaching themselves to large wild animals and birds as their hosts and they favor wooded areas.
Lone-star ticks are found in the United States ranging from the midwest and covering most of the eastern coast. The lone-star tick primarily inhabits the southern United States but in recent years has increasingly migrated towards the northern part of the Unites States as well.
For information about diseases associated with the lone-star tick visit the Lone-star Tick Disease Page