Gulf Coast Tick
Amblyomma maculatum
This record describes Amblyomma maculatum (species). Recorded family: Ixodidae. Recorded order: Ixodida.
Identification and Appearance
|----------Male---------|--------Female--------| photo , photo - www.insectimages.org It has spurs on the second, third and fourth pairs of legs and more diffuse pale markings on the female than does the lone star tick.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
TX-FL-NC, OK, IL, AZ (BG data) Found particularly along the Gulf and South Atlantic coastlines. Per CDC: "The Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum , is a Nearctic and Neotropical hard tick found in coastal areas of the southern United States, with inland range extensions in Kansas, Oklahoma, and some other states."
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Common hosts include livestock, deer, dogs and man. They often infest the ears of cattle.
Life History
The Gulf Coast tick ( Amblyomma maculatum ) Koch is a 3-host tick. Larvae and nymphs feed on small rodents and ground dwelling birds. Adults primarily feed on the ears of large mammals and are considered an economic pest of cattle. (TAMU)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Amblyomma maculatum Koch, 1844
About Ticks: the wider group
Order-level background for Ixodida, the group containing Amblyomma maculatum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Ixodida (ticks) includes ~900 described species in two major families: hard ticks (Ixodidae, ~700 species) and soft ticks (Argasidae, ~200 species). Ticks can increase their body weight by 200-600× when engorged with blood.
Ecological role of the group
Ticks are obligate blood-feeding parasites at all life stages after hatching. A single female can lay 3,000-8,000 eggs. Ticks can transmit more different pathogens than any other arthropod group - including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa simultaneously.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Tick-borne diseases are the most common vector-borne illnesses in the U.S. - Lyme disease alone accounts for 82% of all tickborne disease reports (CDC). Annual cases more than doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 between 2004-2016. Tick-related economic losses in U.S. cattle alone exceed $3 billion annually.
Recorded sources for this group: CDC tick surveillance data, USDA veterinary entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Gulf Coast Tick (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , Graham M , kschnei , edanko
Frequently Asked Questions About Gulf Coast Tick
What is Gulf Coast Tick?
Gulf Coast Tick (Amblyomma maculatum) is a species in the family Ixodidae, within the order Ixodida.
How do you identify Gulf Coast Tick?
|----------Male---------|--------Female--------| photo , photo - www.insectimages.org It has spurs on the second, third and fourth pairs of legs and more diffuse pale markings on the female than does the lone star tick.
Where is Gulf Coast Tick found?
Range: TX-FL-NC, OK, IL, AZ (BG data) Found particularly along the Gulf and South Atlantic coastlines. Per CDC: The Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum , is a Nearctic and Neotropical hard tick found in coastal areas of the southern United States, with inland range extensions in Kansas, Oklahoma, and some other states.
What does Gulf Coast Tick eat?
The diet of the Gulf Coast Tick includes Common hosts include livestock, deer, dogs and man. They often infest the ears of cattle..
What is the life cycle of a Gulf Coast Tick?
The Gulf Coast tick ( Amblyomma maculatum ) Koch is a 3-host tick. Larvae and nymphs feed on small rodents and ground dwelling birds. Adults primarily feed on the ears of large mammals and are considered an economic pest of cattle. (TAMU)