Ticks come in many shapes and sizes—and unfortunately, many carry serious diseases. This article explores the major tick types, what illnesses they transmit, and the troubling rise in tick-borne infections this year.
CAUTION: THIS ARTICLE MAY GIVE SOME THE SHIVERS, ICK or UGHS! YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!
Major Tick Types in the U.S.
Ticks are divided into hard ticks (Ixodidae) and soft ticks (Argasidae), with hard ticks more often implicated in human disease lymedisease.org.
1. Black-legged (Deer) Tick – Ixodes scapularis
Appearance: Small (⅛″), orange‑red body, black legs.
Range: Eastern, Midwest, and increasingly elsewhere projectlyme.orgtheguardian.com.
Diseases: Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Powassan virus aldf.com+4mayoclinic.org+4tbcunited.org+4.
Note: Nymphs, tiny and hard to spot, are high-risk transmitters theguardian.com+15lymedisease.org+15domyown.com+15.
2. Western Black-legged Tick – Ixodes pacificus
Appearance: Similar to deer tick.
Range: Pacific Coast states.
Diseases: Lyme, anaplasmosis, babesiosis upstate.edu+14mayoclinic.org+14projectlyme.org+14.
3. Lone Star Tick – Amblyomma americanum
Appearance: Females have a distinctive white “star” on the back.
Range: Southeastern U.S., expanding north and west projectlyme.orgen.wikipedia.org+5terminix.com+5aldf.com+5.
Diseases: Ehrlichiosis (E. chaffeensis & ewingii), Heartland & Bourbon viruses, tularemia, STARI, spotted fever, tick paralysis, and alpha‑gal syndrome—a serious meat allergy wsj.com+7mayoclinic.org+7tbcunited.org+7.
4. American Dog Tick – Dermacentor variabilis
Appearance: Brown/reddish with pale scutum in females.
Range: East of Rockies & parts of West Coast tbcunited.org+4projectlyme.org+4projectlyme.org+4.
Diseases: Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia en.wikipedia.org+5mayoclinic.org+5projectlyme.org+5.
5. Rocky Mountain Wood Tick – Dermacentor andersoni
Range: Rocky Mountains, SW Canada .
Diseases: Colorado tick fever, RMSF, tularemia southernliving.com+7mayoclinic.org+7projectlyme.org+7.
6. Brown Dog Tick – Rhipicephalus sanguineus
Range: Worldwide, especially southwestern U.S.
Diseases: RMSF; bites mostly dogs, but can affect humans aldf.comunmc.edu.
7. Gulf Coast Tick – Amblyomma maculatum
Range: Southeast to mid‑Atlantic, southern Arizona aldf.com+14mayoclinic.org+14unmc.edu+14.
Disease: Rickettsia parkeri spotted fever dph.illinois.gov+3mayoclinic.org+3terminix.com+3.
8. Groundhog Tick – Ixodes cookei
Range: Eastern U.S. mayoclinic.org+4projectlyme.org+4terminix.com+4.
Disease: Powassan virus ohiodnr.gov+15projectlyme.org+15projectlyme.org+15.
9. Asian Longhorned Tick – Haemaphysalis longicornis
Invasive species now in ~11 U.S. states aldf.com+8mayoclinic.org+8en.wikipedia.org+8.
Potentially carries anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, rickettsiosis—though human risk remains under study aldf.com+5mayoclinic.org+5timesunion.com+5.
Why 2025 Is a Dangerous Year
Spike in Tick Populations: Record tick season reported in the Northeast, with counts up 30–40% over last year wsj.com+1theguardian.com+1.
Disease Spread Doubling: NY labs tested 955 ticks; 31% carried pathogens, and human cases of Lyme, anaplasmosis, babesiosis are sharply rising timesunion.com.
Geographic Expansion: Lone Star ticks are spreading north, bringing alpha‑gal allergy concerns to new regions dphhs.mt.gov+11theguardian.com+11nypost.com+11.
Climate Change Contribution: Milder winters and wetter springs create perfect conditions for tick survival and breeding wsj.com.
What This Means for You
Enhanced Risk of Co-infections: Many ticks now carry multiple pathogens—e.g., babesiosis and anaplasmosis alongside Lyme .
More Frequent & Severe Illnesses: Hospitalizations for tick-borne infections have increased; untreated RMSF has a fatality rate, and alpha‑gal reactions can be severe .
Prevention & Safety Tips
Repellents: Use DEET on skin and permethrin-treated clothing fw.ky.gov+14wsj.com+14timesunion.com+14.
Wear Smart: Long sleeves, light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot.
Avoid High-Risk Areas: Steer clear of tall grass, brush edges, and stay on clear paths wsj.com+2southernliving.com+2lymedisease.org+2wsj.com+1terminix.com+1.
Regular Tick Checks: Check yourself, pets, and clothing after outdoor exposure.
Proper Removal: Use tweezers to pull straight upwards; don’t use matches or nail polish dph.illinois.gov+10wsj.com+10timesunion.com+10southernliving.com.
Test the Tick: Send removed ticks to labs (e.g., NY State or SUNY Upstate) to assess pathogen risk projectlyme.org+9timesunion.com+9en.wikipedia.org+9.
See a Physician Promptly: Especially if you develop fever, rash, or flu-like symptoms (e.g., bull’s-eye rash) southernliving.com+2wsj.com+2dph.illinois.gov+2.
Key Takeaways
| Insight | Details |
|---|---|
| Tick diversity is high | Many U.S. species carry distinct diseases. |
| Cases & vectors expanding | Warming climate fuels tick population & range expansion. |
| 2025 = high-risk season | More ticks, higher infection rates, increased co-infections. |
| Active prevention essential | Repellents, checks, proper clothing, early removal/testing. |
Staying informed, prepared, and proactive is more important than ever. Whether you’re hiking in Vermont or gardening in Ohio, this season demands vigilance. Safe summer outings—and may your tick checks be thorough!
President & Co-Founder – Overlanding Unlimited
