Lone Star Tick

Scientific name: Amblyomma americanum Linnaeus
(Acari: Ixodidae)

Facts: The lone star tick has a white spot on its back by which to identify it. This is one of the hard tick family because it has a shield-shaped plate (scutum) on its back. Piercing-sucking mouthparts help this pest take blood from the host. Ticks that take in a lot of blood enlarge and are called engorged.

Photo credit: John A. Jackman, Extension Entomology, Texas A&M University