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Profil de l'espèce

Gulf Coast tick

Amblyomma maculatum

An ornate, aggressive human-biting hard tick found primarily in the southeastern United States, with focal populations reported in other regions.

Dorsal view of an adult female Amblyomma maculatum Gulf Coast tick
female · Adult · unfed

Crédit image:James Gathany / CDC Conditions de licenceSource

Dorsal view of an adult male Amblyomma maculatum Gulf Coast tick
male · Adult · unfed

Crédit image:James Gathany / CDC Conditions de licenceSource

Galerie d'images

Dorsal view of an adult female Amblyomma maculatum Gulf Coast tick
Adult female

Crédit image:James Gathany / CDC Conditions de licenceSource

Dorsal view of an adult male Amblyomma maculatum Gulf Coast tick
Adult male

Crédit image:James Gathany / CDC Conditions de licenceSource

Faits rapides

Family: Ixodidae. Genus: Amblyomma. Hard tick.

Identification

Adults are ornate and have long mouthparts, eyes and festoons. Females have a patterned anterior scutum; males have pale ornamentation across most of the dorsum.

Photographs and location alone may be insufficient for confirmation; use expert morphological examination when reliable species identification is required.

Photographs alone cannot always confirm this species. Geographic location and host are supporting context, not conclusive identification.

Différences sexuelles et d'apparence

Adult females have a smaller ornate scutum and expandable posterior body. Adult males have an ornate scutum covering nearly the entire dorsum.

Cycle de vie

Three-host hard-tick life cycle with egg, larva, nymph and adult stages.

Étapes de la vie

  • Egg
  • Larva
  • Nymph
  • Adult

Activité saisonnière

Adult activity is most apparent in warmer months; timing varies by locality and year.

Hôtes

  • Humans (Homo sapiens)
  • Cattle (Bos taurus)
  • Deer
  • Birds
  • Small mammals
  • Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)

Habitats

  • Grassland and shrubland
  • Woodland edges and trails

Répartition

CDC describes primary distribution in the southeastern United States with focal northeastern, midwestern and southwestern populations.

La présence, les populations établies, la qualité de l'habitat et le risque de maladie sont des catégories de preuves distinctes.

Pays et régions

  • United States — established_regional

    CDC describes primary distribution in the southeastern United States with focal northeastern, midwestern and southwestern populations.

  • Texas — established_widespread

    In a Texas study of 1,625 ticks removed from people and submitted during 2014–2021, Amblyomma maculatum represented 11.9% of submitted ticks. Submission frequency reflects human–tick interactions in the study dataset, not complete statewide abundance.

  • Delaware — present

    Delaware DNREC lists the Gulf Coast tick among the five species commonly found in Delaware.

  • Florida — present

    University of Florida IFAS Extension lists the Gulf Coast tick among five hard ticks people are most likely to encounter in Florida.

  • Georgia — present

    Georgia DPH surveillance records collected Gulf Coast ticks in Georgia.

  • Indiana — present

    Indiana Department of Health identifies the Gulf Coast tick among tick species of public-health relevance in Indiana.

  • Kansas — present

    Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports that the Gulf Coast tick appears to be increasing in Kansas.

  • Louisiana — present

    LSU AgCenter identifies the Gulf Coast tick as one of five hard-tick species of public-health concern in Louisiana.

  • Mississippi — present

    Mississippi State University Extension lists the Gulf Coast tick among five significant pest ticks occurring in Mississippi.

  • Pennsylvania — present

    Pennsylvania DEP frequently collects Gulf Coast ticks during statewide surveillance.

  • South Carolina — present

    South Carolina DPH lists the Gulf Coast tick among six species often encountered in South Carolina.

  • Tennessee — present

    Tennessee Department of Health lists the Gulf Coast tick among six key species living in Tennessee.

  • Virginia — present

    Virginia Department of Health records the Gulf Coast tick primarily along Virginia's coastline.

  • West Virginia — present

    West Virginia OEPS includes the Gulf Coast tick in its state tick species distribution data.

Pertinence médicale et vétérinaire

Aggressively bites humans. Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis is a confirmed vector-borne association.

Adults feed on cattle, deer and other large mammals; infestation and pathogen relevance are region-specific.

Pathogènes et maladies

  • Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis — disease

La détection d'un agent pathogène chez une tique n'établit pas en soi que l'espèce est un vecteur confirmé.

Preuves vectorielles et pathogènes

Confirmed U.S. vector of Rickettsia parkeri. Detection of other organisms in field-collected ticks must not be represented as proven vector competence.

Importance médicale

Importance vétérinaire

Conseils pour la prévention et l'élimination

Use current public-health and veterinary guidance, avoid known tick habitats where practical, use suitable repellents or protective clothing, and check people and animals after exposure.

Remove attached ticks promptly using fine-tipped tweezers or an appropriate tick-removal tool. Seek medical or veterinary advice when symptoms or concerns arise.

Informations importantes d'identification et de santé

Informations pédagogiques et limitations

Les photographies et les caractéristiques visibles peuvent ne pas suffire pour une identification définitive.

Ces informations pédagogiques ne constituent pas un diagnostic et ne remplacent en aucun cas un avis médical ou vétérinaire.

Ces informations pédagogiques ne remplacent en aucun cas un examen ou les conseils d'un professionnel vétérinaire qualifié.

La présence, les populations établies, la qualité de l'habitat et le risque de maladie sont des catégories de preuves distinctes.

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