Amblyomma americanum

Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, Zootaxa 1392, pp. 31-68 : 48

Amblyomma americanum (L.) ­ lone star tick

Ex Carpodacus mexicanus (house finch): 6L, NC, Swain Co., Oconaluftee, 25 Jun. 2001, P. Super, L­2967.

Ex Procyon lotor (raccoon): 2L, GSMNP, 28 Sep. 1986, R. Thompson, RML119896; 1N, 2L, GSMNP, 4 Sep. 1988, R. Thompson, RML119894; 1N, 2L, GSMNP, 4 Sep. 1988, R. Thompson, RML119895; 5N, 3L, GSMNP, date not given, R. Thompson, RML119899.

The lone star tick is common and widespread in the eastern United States and occurs as far north as Maine (Keirans & Lacombe 1998). However, the relatively small number of records from the Park suggests that it is not common there. Immature ticks parasitize a variety of birds and mammals whereas adults typically parasitize larger mammals including humans (Bishopp & Trembley 1945, Strickland et al. 1976, Durden & Kollars 1992). This tick is a vector of Ehrlichia chaffeensis , Ehrlichia ewingii , Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii , and “ Borrelia lonestarii ” a putative agent of southern tick associated rash illness (STARI) also known as “Lymelike disease” (Childs & Paddock 2003). A new Ehrlichia sp., similar to the agent of heartwater, was recently reported from A. americanum in Georgia (Loftis et al. 2006).