This photograph depicted a dorsal view of a female "lone star tick", Amblyomma americanum. Note the characteristic “lone star” marking located centrally on its dorsal surface, at the distal tip of its scutum. To view additional images related to this tick specie, see PHIL 4407, 8676 through 8681, and 8683 through 8685.
Symptoms and Diagnosis:
Persons who have been bitten by a lone star tick, A. americanum, and who develop a red, expanding rash with central clearing, known as “erythema migrans”, headache or myalgia with fever, should see their physician. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is interested in obtaining samples from such patients under an Institutional Review Board-approved investigational protocol
Prevention and Treatment:
Prevention measures similar to those for the Lyme disease vector will reduce your exposure to infected ticks. See Lyme Disease Prevention and Control for information on how to:
- avoid tick habitats,
- reduce tick abundance,
- use personal protection equipment, and
- check and remove ticks.

Content Providers(s): CDC/ Dr. Amanda Loftis, Dr. William Nicholson, Dr. Will Reeves, Dr. Chris Paddock

Picture & text from CDC/PHIL. For more information on source & for information on color coding used above for different types of ticks, see Tick Pictures from CDC