Ticks in Indiana

Lone star tick

Amblyomma americanum

Present Amblyomma hard_tick Indiana

Indiana Department of Health identifies the lone star tick among tick species of public-health relevance in Indiana.

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An aggressive human-biting hard tick widely distributed in the eastern United States and especially common in the South. Larvae, nymphs and adults bite people.

Identification:

The adult female has a single pale or white spot near the centre of the scutum. Adult males have pale markings around the posterior margin rather than one central spot. Mouthparts are relatively long.

Hosts: Humans, White-tailed deer, Small mammals, Birds, Dogs

Habitats: Woodland, Woodland edges and trails, Grassland and shrubland

Photographs and visible features may be insufficient for definitive identification.

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Gulf Coast tick

Amblyomma maculatum

Present Amblyomma hard_tick Indiana

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

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

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.

Hosts: Humans, Cattle, Deer, Birds, Small mammals

Habitats: Grassland and shrubland, Woodland edges and trails

Photographs and visible features may be insufficient for definitive identification.

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American dog tick

Also known as: Wood tick

Dermacentor variabilis

Present Dermacentor hard_tick Indiana

Indiana Department of Health identifies the American dog tick among tick species of public-health relevance in Indiana.

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A widespread North American hard tick. Adults commonly bite dogs and humans, while larvae and nymphs feed mainly on small mammals.

Also known as: Wood tick

Identification:

Adults have short mouthparts, eyes and festoons, with pale ornamentation on the dorsal shield. Females have a pale patterned scutum at the front; males have ornamentation across most of the dorsum.

Hosts: Humans, Dogs, Small mammals, Large mammals

Habitats: Woodland edges and trails, Grassland and shrubland

Photographs and visible features may be insufficient for definitive identification.

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Asian longhorned tick

Also known as: Bush tick, Cattle tick, Scrub tick

Haemaphysalis longicornis

Present Haemaphysalis hard_tick Indiana

Indiana Department of Health identifies the Asian longhorned tick among tick species of public-health relevance in Indiana.

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An invasive hard tick established in parts of the eastern United States and a major livestock concern. U.S. populations reproduce parthenogenetically.

Also known as: Bush tick, Cattle tick, Scrub tick

Identification:

Unfed stages are small and reddish-tan to dark reddish-brown. Adult females can become grey-green after feeding. Definitive identification requires expert examination.

Hosts: Humans, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Horses

Habitats: Pasture, Grassland and shrubland, Woodland edges and trails

Photographs and visible features may be insufficient for definitive identification.

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Blacklegged tick

Also known as: Deer tick, Bear tick

Ixodes scapularis

Present Ixodes hard_tick Indiana

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

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A widespread eastern United States hard tick and major human-biting vector. Nymphs and adult females are most often reported on people, although larvae also bite humans.

Also known as: Deer tick, Bear tick

Identification:

Adult females typically have a dark scutum and legs contrasting with an orange-red posterior body when unfed. Adult males appear more uniformly dark because the scutum covers most of the dorsum. Ixodes ticks lack eyes and festoons and have the anal groove anterior to the anus.

Hosts: Humans, White-tailed deer, Small mammals, Birds, Lizards

Habitats: Woodland, Woodland edges and trails

Photographs and visible features may be insufficient for definitive identification.

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Brown dog tick

Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Present Indiana

Indiana Department of Health identifies the brown dog tick among tick species of public-health relevance in Indiana.

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A globally distributed, dog-associated hard tick able to complete its life cycle in buildings and kennels. UK records are linked to importation; UKHSA reports no current evidence of establishment outdoors or as a resident UK population.

Identification:

Laterally produced angular basis capituli.

Eyes and festoons present.

Scutum lacks ornamentation.

Mouthparts relatively short compared with the basis capituli.

Coxa I has large paired internal and external spurs.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus is a species complex in some literature; expert morphological and sometimes molecular review may be necessary.

Photographs and visible features may be insufficient for definitive identification.

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