US Tick Guide Identifies 8 Species as Bite Risk Peaks From April to September
Updated
Updated · Fox Weather · Jun 30
US Tick Guide Identifies 8 Species as Bite Risk Peaks From April to September
2 articles · Updated · Fox Weather · Jun 30
Summary
Eight common U.S. tick species can spread illnesses ranging from Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever to alpha-gal syndrome, according to guidance from Stony Brook pediatric infectious disease physician Andrew Handel.
April to September marks peak tick activity, though ticks can be found year-round, making identification and bite prevention more important as awareness of tickborne disease grows.
Blacklegged ticks dominate the eastern U.S. and western blacklegged ticks the Pacific Coast; lone star ticks are widespread in the South, Midwest and Northeast and are linked to a delayed red-meat allergy.
Rocky Mountain wood ticks live at 4,000 to 10,500 feet in Northwestern states and can rarely cause tick paralysis, while Asian longhorned ticks—first documented in the U.S. in 2017—are still being studied for human risk.