Lone star tick populations across the United States

The lone star tick, once found primarily in the Southeast, has steadily expanded its range and is known for its aggressive host-seeking behavior.

This map reflects the known distribution of lone star ticks as of 2025. Counties are classified as established if at least six lone star ticks from a single life stage or ticks from multiple life stages were collected within a 12-month period. Gray counties should not be interpreted as tick-free.
Chart: Amanda Watford/StatelineSource: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionGet the data Created with Datawrapper