Adult black-legged ticks prefer cooler/colder times of the year and can be active down to just above freezing temperatures. For this reason, dogs should remain on a fast-acting tick control product even during traditional winter months. In most places in the U.S. during traditional winter months there are plenty of days where the temperature high is above freezing and black-legged ticks are out looking for hosts. Note: The juvenile life stages of the black-legged tick prefer warmer temperatures and are more active in late spring and summer months.

Tropical bont ticks are not found in the U.S., however, this tick species poses a threat to enter the U.S. If you see a tick that looks ‘different than normal’, it’s a good idea to reach out to an expert (university, state, and/or regional resources) or to your state veterinarian.

Only lotilaner was found to kill lone star ticks as fast at the end of the month as it did at the beginning of the month. The other two products took an extra two days to kill lone star ticks when dogs were infested at the end of the month (28 days post-treatment) compared to lotilaner. (*Note all products performed within label indications – lotilaner (48 hours to control A. americanum), sarolaner (72 hours to control A. americanum), afoxolaner (72 hours to control A. americanum).  For lotilaner-treated dogs, when dogs were infested 28 days post-treatment, significant lone star tick control (compared to untreated dogs) occurred by 12 hours post-infestation, and over 90% of lone star ticks were controlled by 24 hours.

The lone star tick can transmit multiple species of Ehrlichia in the U.S., including Ehrlichia ewingii and Ehrlichia chaffeensis – both of which can infect and cause disease in dogs.

Although lone star ticks are certainly pests, they are also significant vectors of a variety of pathogens of veterinary and public health importance. Lone star ticks are associated with multiple agents of ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrlichia chaffeensis), several emerging viral pathogens (Heartland virus, Bourbon virus), the agent of tularemia (Francisella tularensis), the agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii, demonstrated as in the laboratory as a competent vector), and the agent of Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (Borrelia lonestari). In addition, the lone star tick is associated with the condition, alpha-gal syndrome (a food allergy, not pathogen associated).