Your Backyard Could Be Home to Five Disease-Carrying Tick Species – Here’s How to Identify Each One

Suffolk County, New York, has become ground zero for tick-borne diseases, with 600 cases of Lyme disease, 153 cases of Babesiosis and 84 cases of Human Moncytic Ehrlichiosis reported in 2016 alone. As homeowners spend more time in their yards, understanding which tick species lurk in your landscape has never been more critical for protecting your family’s health.

The Five Tick Species Found in Suffolk County Yards

While many homeowners assume there’s only one type of tick to worry about, Suffolk County actually hosts five distinct tick species, each with its own appearance, habitat preferences, and disease risks.

1. Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick) – Ixodes scapularis

Deer ticks, also known as black-legged ticks or bear ticks, are brown to black in color. These small arachnids are the primary concern for most Suffolk County residents, as they’re a vector for a number of tick borne diseases including Lyme, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and powassan. The Deer Tick or Blacklegged Tick is known to reside at the edge of forests and leaf litter. Adult Deer Ticks typically are only active from September to April. However, deer ticks can transmit disease at any stage of their life, so it remains a threat throughout the year.

Blacklegged ticks prefer shady, moist areas at ground level. They will cling to tall grass, brush and shrubs, usually no more than 18-24 inches off the ground. They also live in lawns and gardens, especially at the edges of woods and around old stone walls.

2. Lone Star Tick – Amblyomma americanum

The Lone Star tick is easily identifiable by their distinctive white spot or “lone star” on the back of the female’s body. In some ways, the Lone Star Tick is the most dangerous of ticks on Long Island. These ticks can transmit southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Additionally, Allergic reactions associated with consumption of red (mammalian) meat have been reported among people bitten by Lone Star Ticks.

3. American Dog Tick – Dermacentor variabilis

The American dog tick is brown to reddish brown in color. Males have a mottled gray-white distributed over their entire bodies; this coloration is only present on the female’s shield. These ticks are mostly found questing in tall grasses and can transmit Francisella tularensis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

4. Asian Longhorned Tick – Haemaphysalis longicornis

The newest invasive species to Suffolk County, First spotted in Suffolk County in 2018, these ticks live in a variety of habitats including meadows and grassy areas located near forests. our 2022 tick survey suggests that H. longicornis has rapidly invaded and expanded in multiple surveying sites on Long Island (12 out of 17 sites). What makes this tick particularly concerning is that it can reproduce without mating. This process is called parthenogenesis, where female ticks do not need male ticks to fertilize their eggs.

5. Brown Dog Tick – Rhipicephalus sanguineus

While less common in outdoor environments, the Brown Dog Tick can still be found in Suffolk County yards, particularly in areas where dogs frequent. Dogs are the primary host for the brown dog tick in each of its life stages, but the tick may also bite humans or other mammals. This species can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever (in the southwestern U.S. and along the U.S.-Mexico border).

Disease Risks: What Each Tick Can Transmit

Understanding which diseases each tick species carries is crucial for proper medical care if bitten. Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in New York but there are other serious diseases transmitted by ticks including babesiosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, hard tick relapsing fever and Powassan encephalitis.

The blacklegged tick poses the greatest threat, carrying Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis), Babesia microti (babesiosis), Borrelia burgdorferi and B. mayonii (which cause Lyme disease), B. miyamotoi (hard tick relapsing fever), Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis (ehrlichiosis), and Powassan virus (Powassan virus disease).

Professional Tick Control: Your Best Defense

Given the serious health risks and the rapid expansion of tick populations in Suffolk County, professional pest control has become essential for many homeowners. 20-50% of Long Island ticks carry Lyme disease and 70% of all people diagnosed with tick-related diseases were bitten in their own yards.

For Suffolk County residents seeking comprehensive protection, professional Tick Control Suffolk County, NY services offer scientifically-based approaches to reduce tick populations on your property. As a licensed arborist, Jones is committed to offering scientifically based landscape management and delivering quality services. Jones Tree and Plant Care will inspect your landscape, diagnose any problems, and make recommendations based on knowledge and expertise gained through over 10 years of experience in the industry.

Professional tick control companies like Jones Tree and Plant Care understand that We implement the best research-supported strategies, and customize our approach based on the needs of each individual client and property. We take a total tree and plant care approach to enrich the condition of your soil, improve the growth of your plantings, and increase the overall appearance of your Nassau or Suffolk County property. We are committed to offering treatments that are effective, yet safe for the environment, and affordable to you.

Prevention Strategies for Your Property

While professional treatment provides the most comprehensive protection, homeowners can also take steps to reduce tick habitat. Check yourself (and your pets) thoroughly after time outdoors. On people, ticks will hide in hair and in any areas that bend. On dogs and cats, ticks can be found between paw pads, under collars, between the shoulder blades – anywhere the pet cannot reach to groom itself.

Property management is equally important. Avoid overgrown areas. Ticks are most common in areas with tall grass. Regular lawn maintenance, removing leaf litter, and creating barriers between wooded areas and recreational spaces can significantly reduce tick populations.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Fever, rash, headache and muscle aches can be symptoms of early Lyme disease infection. Other tick-borne diseases may have different symptoms. If you notice any unusual or severe symptoms, especially if you know you’ve been bitten by a tick or have been in an area where ticks might be present, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Remember that A tick carrying Lyme disease has to stay attached to you for 24-48 hours for the infection to transmit. Quick removal is crucial, but proper identification of the tick species can help medical professionals determine appropriate treatment protocols.

As Suffolk County continues to see expanding tick populations and emerging species like the Asian Longhorned Tick, staying informed about the five tick species in your yard isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for protecting your family’s health. Whether through professional tick control services or vigilant personal protection measures, taking action now can prevent serious tick-borne illnesses later.