What types of ticks live in South Carolina?

South Carolina has the deer tick (blacklegged tick), which carries Lyme disease and is established across the state; the American dog tick, which is established; and the lone star tick, which is established and causes alpha-gal syndrome. County-level presence is shown in the table above.

Which South Carolina tick carries Lyme disease?

The deer tick, also called the blacklegged tick, is the tick that spreads Lyme disease in South Carolina. The American dog tick and lone star tick do not carry Lyme, though they can transmit other illnesses.

How can I tell these ticks apart?

Use size, color, and legs. The deer tick is small with a reddish-orange body, a solid dark shield, and black legs. The American dog tick is larger and brown with an ornate off-white mottled shield. The female lone star tick has a single white dot on her back. The chart above shows each one.

Tick Identification in South Carolina

The ticks you are most likely to find in South Carolina, with photos and the size, color, and markings that tell them apart. Only the deer tick carries Lyme disease. Below the chart, see which types live in your county.

Deer tick

Ixodes scapularis

Carries Lyme

Established in South Carolina

Size:: Small, a sesame seed (nymph: a poppy seed)
Look for:: Reddish-orange body, solid dark shield, black legs, no pattern
Carries:: Lyme, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, Powassan

Full deer tick guide →

American dog tick

Dermacentor variabilis

Established in South Carolina

Size:: Larger, an apple seed
Look for:: Brown with an ornate off-white mottled shield
Carries:: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia (rare)

Full american dog tick guide →

Lone star tick

Amblyomma americanum

Established in South Carolina

Size:: Medium, rounded
Look for:: Reddish-brown; female has a single white dot on the back
Carries:: Ehrlichiosis, STARI, alpha-gal syndrome

Full lone star tick guide →

Brown dog tick

Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Found nationwide, the one tick that infests homes and kennels indoors

Size:: Medium, narrow body that tapers toward the head
Look for:: Uniform reddish-brown, no ornate markings
Carries:: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, canine diseases

Full brown dog tick guide →

Gulf Coast tick

Amblyomma maculatum

A southern tick spreading north into the mid-Atlantic

Size:: Large, bigger than a lone star
Look for:: Silvery ornate markings on the shield, no single dot
Carries:: Rickettsia parkeri spotted fever

Full gulf coast tick guide →

Asian longhorned tick

Haemaphysalis longicornis

A newer arrival, established in the mid-Atlantic and spreading north

Size:: Small and plain, often found in large numbers
Look for:: Reddish-brown with no markings
Carries:: Mainly a livestock threat; human disease risk under study

Full asian longhorned tick guide →

South Carolina establishment is shown for the three ticks CDC tracks by county; the others carry a regional range note. Source: CDC tick surveillance (ArboNET Tick Module), 2025. County surveillance is coarse: “not established” is a lack of records, not proof a tick is absent.

Deer, dog and lone star ticks by South Carolina county

These are the three ticks CDC maps county by county, not the only ticks in South Carolina: the brown dog, Gulf Coast, and Asian longhorned ticks are in the chart above. Tap a county for its daily tick-risk detail.

County	Deer tick	American dog tick	Lone star tick	Gulf Coast tick
Abbeville County	Reported	Not established	Reported	Established
Aiken County	Established	Established	Established	Established
Allendale County	Reported	Not established	Established	Established
Anderson County	Reported	Established	Not established	Established
Bamberg County	Established	Reported	Not established	Established
Barnwell County	Established	Reported	Reported	Established
Beaufort County	Established	Established	Established	Established
Berkeley County	Established	Not established	Established	Established
Calhoun County	Reported	Not established	Not established	Established
Charleston County	Established	Established	Established	Established
Cherokee County	Not established	Reported	Established	Established
Chester County	Established	Established	Established	Established
Chesterfield County	Reported	Reported	Established	Established
Clarendon County	Not established	Reported	Reported	Established
Colleton County	Established	Established	Established	Established
Darlington County	Reported	Not established	Not established	Established
Dillon County	Established	Reported	Not established	Established
Dorchester County	Established	Not established	Established	Established
Edgefield County	Established	Not established	Established	Established
Fairfield County	Reported	Reported	Reported	Established
Florence County	Established	Not established	Reported	Established
Georgetown County	Established	Established	Established	Established
Greenville County	Reported	Established	Reported	Established
Greenwood County	Established	Not established	Established	Established
Hampton County	Established	Not established	Established	Established
Horry County	Reported	Established	Established	Established
Jasper County	Established	Established	Established	Established
Kershaw County	Reported	Reported	Established	Established
Lancaster County	Not established	Established	Not established	Established
Laurens County	Reported	Reported	Reported	Established
Lee County	Reported	Reported	Established	Established
Lexington County	Reported	Reported	Reported	Established
Marion County	Not established	Not established	Established	Established
Marlboro County	Not established	Not established	Not established	Established
McCormick County	Established	Not established	Reported	Established
Newberry County	Established	Reported	Reported	Established
Oconee County	Not established	Reported	Not established	Established
Orangeburg County	Established	Established	Established	Established
Pickens County	Reported	Not established	Established	Established
Richland County	Established	Reported	Established	Established
Saluda County	Reported	Reported	Not established	Established
Spartanburg County	Reported	Established	Established	Established
Sumter County	Established	Established	Established	Established
Union County	Established	Not established	Reported	Established
Williamsburg County	Established	Not established	Established	Established
York County	Not established	Reported	Reported	Established

Lone star ticks and alpha-gal syndrome

The lone star tick is established in South Carolina, including Aiken County, Allendale County, Beaufort County, Berkeley County, Charleston County, Cherokee County, Chester County, Chesterfield County, Colleton County, Dorchester County, Edgefield County, Georgetown County, Greenwood County, Hampton County, Horry County, Jasper County, Kershaw County, Lee County, Marion County, Orangeburg County, Pickens County, Richland County, Spartanburg County, Sumter County, Williamsburg County. Its bite can cause alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat.

Do not overlook the tiny ones

Nymph deer ticks are the size of a poppy seed and cause most Lyme cases in South Carolina because they are so easy to miss. When you check for ticks, look for the small ones too, especially in June and July.

South Carolina tick risk by town

A daily 0–100 tick-risk score for every town in South Carolina.

See South Carolina →

Tick identification chart

The national chart, plus identification for other states.

All states →

Frequently asked questions

What types of ticks live in South Carolina?: South Carolina has the deer tick (blacklegged tick), which carries Lyme disease and is established across the state; the American dog tick, which is established; and the lone star tick, which is established and causes alpha-gal syndrome. County-level presence is shown in the table above.
Which South Carolina tick carries Lyme disease?: The deer tick, also called the blacklegged tick, is the tick that spreads Lyme disease in South Carolina. The American dog tick and lone star tick do not carry Lyme, though they can transmit other illnesses.
Are there lone star ticks in South Carolina?: Yes. The lone star tick is established in South Carolina, including Aiken County, Allendale County, Beaufort County, Berkeley County, Charleston County, Cherokee County, Chester County, Chesterfield County, Colleton County, Dorchester County, Edgefield County, Georgetown County, Greenwood County, Hampton County, Horry County, Jasper County, Kershaw County, Lee County, Marion County, Orangeburg County, Pickens County, Richland County, Spartanburg County, Sumter County, Williamsburg County. It causes alpha-gal syndrome, a red-meat allergy.
How can I tell these ticks apart?: Use size, color, and legs. The deer tick is small with a reddish-orange body, a solid dark shield, and black legs. The American dog tick is larger and brown with an ornate off-white mottled shield. The female lone star tick has a single white dot on her back. The chart above shows each one.