 caption (photo by James Gathany, Public Health Image Library, public domain) |
compiled from several sources
The Lone Star Tick (also called northeastern water tick). Amblyomma americanum is now confirmed in Michigan. Berrien County in particular has seen a population develop, although it has been seen in most of southern Michigan.
This is significant because it is a regular carrier of Ehrlichiosis and is the primary vector for Alpha-gal Syndrome—a severe, newly recognized condition where the tick's saliva triggers a lifelong, sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction to mammalian meat (beef, pork, lamb). It does not transmit Lyme disease.
The females display the central white spot on the back while males may have smaller dispersed spots around the perimeter.
While it's common to talk about seeing ticks come out around a particular date, it's more reliable to look at the thermometer. If the weather hits 50° you should expect to see ticks emerging and looking for a blood meal.
And, one rarely feels a tick bite. Their saliva include and anesthetic, anticoagulants and antihistimines that work to keep you from feeling the bite or having an immediate itching reaction. Once they do puncture the skin, the anticoagulant keeps your blood flowing. So don't forget to start visually checking for attached ticks if the weather becomes mild and the leaf litter where they over-winter is exposed.
See Lone Star Tick on Wikipedia
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