Deer tick
Ixodes scapularis
Established in Texas
- 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
Tick Identification in Texas
The ticks you are most likely to find in Texas, 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.
Carries Lyme
American dog tick
Dermacentor variabilis
Established in Texas
- Size:
- Larger, an apple seed
- Look for:
- Brown with an ornate off-white mottled shield
- Carries:
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia (rare)
Lone star tick
Amblyomma americanum
Established in Texas
- Size:
- Medium, rounded
- Look for:
- Reddish-brown; female has a single white dot on the back
- Carries:
- Ehrlichiosis, STARI, alpha-gal syndrome
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
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
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
Texas 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 Texas county
These are the three ticks CDC maps county by county, not the only ticks in Texas: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Andrews County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Angelina County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Aransas County | Established | Established | Reported | Established |
| Archer County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Armstrong County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Atascosa County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Austin County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Bailey County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Bandera County | Reported | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Bastrop County | Reported | Established | Established | Established |
| Baylor County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Bee County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| Bell County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Bexar County | Established | Established | Established | Established |
| Blanco County | Reported | Not established | Established | Established |
| Bosque County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Bowie County | Reported | Established | Established | Established |
| Brazoria County | Established | Established | Established | Established |
| Brazos County | Established | Established | Established | Established |
| Brewster County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Briscoe County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Brooks County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Brown County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Burleson County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Burnet County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Caldwell County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Calhoun County | Not established | Established | Reported | Established |
| Callahan County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Cameron County | Reported | Established | Established | Established |
| Camp County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Carson County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Cass County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Castro County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Chambers County | Not established | Established | Reported | Established |
| Cherokee County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Childress County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Clay County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Cochran County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Coke County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Coleman County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Collin County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Collingsworth County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Colorado County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Comal County | Not established | Not established | Established | Established |
| Comanche County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Concho County | Not established | Established | Not established | Established |
| Cooke County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Coryell County | Reported | Not established | Established | Established |
| Cottle County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Crane County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Crosby County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Culberson County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Dallam County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Dallas County | Reported | Established | Established | Established |
| Dawson County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Deaf Smith County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Delta County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Denton County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| DeWitt County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Dickens County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Dimmit County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Donley County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Duval County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Eastland County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Ector County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Edwards County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| El Paso County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Ellis County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| Erath County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Falls County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Fannin County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Fayette County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Fisher County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Floyd County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Foard County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Fort Bend County | Reported | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Franklin County | Reported | Not established | Established | Established |
| Freestone County | Established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Frio County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Gaines County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Galveston County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Garza County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Gillespie County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Goliad County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Gonzales County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Gray County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Grayson County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Gregg County | Reported | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Grimes County | Established | Not established | Established | Established |
| Guadalupe County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Hale County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Hall County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Hamilton County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Hansford County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Hardeman County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Hardin County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Harris County | Established | Established | Reported | Established |
| Harrison County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Hartley County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Haskell County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Hays County | Reported | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Hemphill County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Henderson County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Hidalgo County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Hill County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Hockley County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Hood County | Not established | Not established | Established | Established |
| Hopkins County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Houston County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Howard County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Hudspeth County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Hunt County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Hutchinson County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Irion County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Jack County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Jackson County | Not established | Established | Reported | Established |
| Jasper County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Jeff Davis County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Jefferson County | Reported | Established | Established | Established |
| Jim Wells County | Not established | Established | Reported | Established |
| Johnson County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Jones County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Karnes County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Kaufman County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Kendall County | Not established | Not established | Established | Established |
| Kent County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Kerr County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Kimble County | Not established | Not established | Established | Established |
| Kinney County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Kleberg County | Reported | Established | Established | Established |
| Knox County | Not established | Established | Reported | Established |
| La Salle County | Not established | Established | Reported | Established |
| Lamar County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Lamb County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Lampasas County | Reported | Not established | Established | Established |
| Lavaca County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Lee County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Leon County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Liberty County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Limestone County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Lipscomb County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Live Oak County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| Llano County | Reported | Not established | Established | Established |
| Lubbock County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Lynn County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Madison County | Not established | Not established | Established | Established |
| Marion County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Martin County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Mason County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Matagorda County | Reported | Established | Reported | Established |
| Maverick County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| McCulloch County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| McLennan County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Medina County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| Menard County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Midland County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Milam County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Mills County | Not established | Not established | Established | Established |
| Mitchell County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Montague County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Montgomery County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Moore County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Morris County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Motley County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Nacogdoches County | Established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Navarro County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Newton County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Nolan County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Nueces County | Not established | Established | Reported | Established |
| Ochiltree County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Oldham County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Orange County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Palo Pinto County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Panola County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Parker County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Parmer County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Pecos County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Polk County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Potter County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Presidio County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Rains County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Randall County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Reagan County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Real County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Red River County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Reeves County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Refugio County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| Roberts County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Robertson County | Reported | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Rockwall County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Runnels County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Rusk County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Sabine County | Reported | Not established | Established | Established |
| San Augustine County | Reported | Reported | Reported | Established |
| San Jacinto County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| San Patricio County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| San Saba County | Not established | Not established | Established | Established |
| Schleicher County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Scurry County | Not established | Reported | Not established | Established |
| Shackelford County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Shelby County | Reported | Established | Established | Established |
| Sherman County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Smith County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Somervell County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Starr County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Stephens County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Sterling County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Stonewall County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Sutton County | Reported | Established | Established | Established |
| Swisher County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Tarrant County | Reported | Reported | Established | Established |
| Taylor County | Reported | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Terry County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Throckmorton County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Titus County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Tom Green County | Not established | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Travis County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| Trinity County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Tyler County | Established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Upshur County | Reported | Not established | Reported | Established |
| Upton County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Uvalde County | Reported | Established | Established | Established |
| Val Verde County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Van Zandt County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Victoria County | Reported | Established | Reported | Established |
| Walker County | Established | Established | Established | Established |
| Waller County | Established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Ward County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Washington County | Reported | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Webb County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| Wharton County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| Wheeler County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Wichita County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| Wilbarger County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Willacy County | Not established | Established | Not established | Established |
| Williamson County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Wilson County | Not established | Reported | Reported | Established |
| Winkler County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Wise County | Not established | Established | Established | Established |
| Wood County | Established | Established | Established | Established |
| Yoakum County | Not established | Not established | Not established | Established |
| Young County | Not established | Reported | Established | Established |
| Zavala County | Reported | Established | Established | Established |
Lone star ticks and alpha-gal syndrome
The lone star tick is established in Texas, including Anderson County, Angelina County, Archer County, Austin County, Bastrop County, Bee County, Bell County, Bexar County, Blanco County, Bosque County, Bowie County, Brazoria County, Brazos County, Brown County, Burnet County, Caldwell County, Cameron County, Cass County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Coleman County, Colorado County, Comal County, Comanche County, Cooke County, Coryell County, Dallas County, Denton County, DeWitt County, Eastland County, Edwards County, Ellis County, Erath County, Falls County, Fannin County, Franklin County, Frio County, Gillespie County, Grayson County, Grimes County, Guadalupe County, Hamilton County, Hardin County, Harrison County, Henderson County, Hidalgo County, Hill County, Hood County, Hopkins County, Houston County, Hunt County, Jack County, Jasper County, Jefferson County, Johnson County, Karnes County, Kaufman County, Kendall County, Kerr County, Kimble County, Kinney County, Kleberg County, Lamar County, Lampasas County, Lavaca County, Leon County, Liberty County, Lipscomb County, Live Oak County, Llano County, Madison County, Marion County, Mason County, Maverick County, McLennan County, Medina County, Mills County, Montague County, Montgomery County, Morris County, Navarro County, Newton County, Nolan County, Palo Pinto County, Parker County, Polk County, Rains County, Real County, Red River County, Refugio County, Rusk County, Sabine County, San Jacinto County, San Patricio County, San Saba County, Shelby County, Smith County, Starr County, Stephens County, Sutton County, Tarrant County, Titus County, Travis County, Trinity County, Tyler County, Uvalde County, Val Verde County, Van Zandt County, Walker County, Webb County, Wharton County, Wichita County, Wilbarger County, Williamson County, Wise County, Wood County, Young County, Zavala 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 Texas because they are so easy to miss. When you check for ticks, look for the small ones too, especially in June and July.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of ticks live in Texas?
- Texas 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 Texas tick carries Lyme disease?
- The deer tick, also called the blacklegged tick, is the tick that spreads Lyme disease in Texas. The American dog tick and lone star tick do not carry Lyme, though they can transmit other illnesses.
- Are there lone star ticks in Texas?
- Yes. The lone star tick is established in Texas, including Anderson County, Angelina County, Archer County, Austin County, Bastrop County, Bee County, Bell County, Bexar County, Blanco County, Bosque County, Bowie County, Brazoria County, Brazos County, Brown County, Burnet County, Caldwell County, Cameron County, Cass County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Coleman County, Colorado County, Comal County, Comanche County, Cooke County, Coryell County, Dallas County, Denton County, DeWitt County, Eastland County, Edwards County, Ellis County, Erath County, Falls County, Fannin County, Franklin County, Frio County, Gillespie County, Grayson County, Grimes County, Guadalupe County, Hamilton County, Hardin County, Harrison County, Henderson County, Hidalgo County, Hill County, Hood County, Hopkins County, Houston County, Hunt County, Jack County, Jasper County, Jefferson County, Johnson County, Karnes County, Kaufman County, Kendall County, Kerr County, Kimble County, Kinney County, Kleberg County, Lamar County, Lampasas County, Lavaca County, Leon County, Liberty County, Lipscomb County, Live Oak County, Llano County, Madison County, Marion County, Mason County, Maverick County, McLennan County, Medina County, Mills County, Montague County, Montgomery County, Morris County, Navarro County, Newton County, Nolan County, Palo Pinto County, Parker County, Polk County, Rains County, Real County, Red River County, Refugio County, Rusk County, Sabine County, San Jacinto County, San Patricio County, San Saba County, Shelby County, Smith County, Starr County, Stephens County, Sutton County, Tarrant County, Titus County, Travis County, Trinity County, Tyler County, Uvalde County, Val Verde County, Van Zandt County, Walker County, Webb County, Wharton County, Wichita County, Wilbarger County, Williamson County, Wise County, Wood County, Young County, Zavala 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.