Ticks in Kentucky: which ones you'll find, and where
Published Updated
By John Stopka, Co-Founder & CEO · Reviewed by John Stopka
The ticks people find most in Kentucky and southern Illinois are the lone star tick, with a single white dot on the female's back; the American dog tick, brown with pale markings; and the small, dark blacklegged or deer tick. They wait on grass and brush at the edges of woods and fields rather than in open, mown lawn, and they are active from spring into fall. Tiny "seed ticks" in clusters are newly hatched larvae. Keeping the mown edge wide is the single most useful thing a yard can do.
Which ticks live in Kentucky?
Three do most of the biting.
- Lone star tick. Reddish-brown; the adult female has a single white or silvery spot in the middle of her back. It is an active, fast-moving tick that will come toward a person rather than only waiting to be brushed. University of Kentucky entomologists describe it along the edges of woods and in overgrown ground [2].
- American dog tick. Larger, brown, with pale gray or whitish markings on the back. Found in grassy fields, along roadsides and trails, and on dogs.
- Blacklegged tick (deer tick). Small and dark, with black legs; the adult female has a reddish-orange body behind a black shield. Smaller than the other two, which makes it easier to miss.
What are seed ticks?
Seed ticks are tick larvae — newly hatched ticks, about the size of a poppy seed, with six legs instead of eight. They hatch by the hundreds from one egg mass, so they are usually met all at once: a cluster of tiny specks on a sock or ankle after walking through brush in late summer. They are the reason one walk can turn up dozens of bites.
Dog tick vs deer tick: how do you tell them apart?
Size and markings. An American dog tick is noticeably larger and brown with pale, mottled markings on its back. A blacklegged (deer) tick is smaller and darker, with black legs and, in the female, a plain reddish body behind a black shield — no pale markings. A lone star tick is told apart by the female's single white dot.
If you need the tick identified, save it in a sealed bag or tape it to a card.
When is tick season in Kentucky?
Spring through fall, with the most activity from late spring into summer. Adult and nymph ticks are out from spring; larvae — the seed ticks — tend to show up in late summer. Warm spells in winter can bring some ticks out, too.
Where do ticks live in a yard?
At the edges. Ticks wait on grass stems and brush, where they can latch on to a passing animal or person, and they need humid, shaded cover not to dry out. That puts them along woods lines, fence rows, tall grass, leaf litter and overgrown corners — not in the middle of short, sunny lawn.
That is why University of Kentucky entomologists advise keeping lawns and play areas as far as possible from the woods edge [2]. In practice that means:
- Keep grass mown, and widen the mown strip between the lawn and the woods or field.
- Clear brush, leaf litter and tall weeds along fences and the edge of the yard.
- Put play equipment, patios and gardens in the open, away from the edge.
- Keep woodpiles and bird feeders away from the house; they draw the mice and other animals ticks feed on.
Are ticks dangerous?
Ticks can carry diseases that affect people and pets, and which ones matter depends on the tick; University of Kentucky's fact sheet on ticks and disease in Kentucky covers them [1]. Checking yourself, your children and your pets after time outdoors, and removing any attached tick promptly, is the standard advice. If a bite or a symptom after a bite concerns you, contact a healthcare provider.
How does Liberty handle ticks?
Through the mosquito service. Tick control is an add-on to our mosquito control service, available April through October. We treat low-lying areas of vegetation and shaded foliage for ticks around your property.
Those are the same shaded, low places ticks wait in. Ask about it when you request your free mosquito inspection. More on the season is in our mosquito season article, and the service is on the mosquito and tick control page.
When to call a professional
Call when your yard backs onto woods or fields and you keep finding ticks on family or pets, or when a mown edge and cleared brush have not been enough. The free inspection looks at where ticks and mosquitoes are resting around your property.
Common questions
What ticks are in Kentucky?
Mainly the lone star tick, the American dog tick and the blacklegged (deer) tick. The lone star tick is the one with a single white dot on the female's back.
What are seed ticks?
Tick larvae: newly hatched ticks about the size of a poppy seed, with six legs. They hatch by the hundreds from one egg mass, so they are usually found in clusters in late summer.
How can you tell a dog tick from a deer tick?
A dog tick is larger and brown with pale markings on its back. A deer tick is smaller and darker, with black legs and no pale markings.
When is tick season in Kentucky?
Spring through fall, with the most activity from late spring into summer. Seed ticks show up in late summer.
How do you keep ticks out of your yard?
Keep grass mown, widen the mown strip at the woods edge, clear brush and leaf litter along fences, and keep play areas in the open [2].
Does Liberty treat for ticks?
Yes. Tick control is an add-on to Liberty's mosquito control service, available April through October, treating low-lying vegetation and shaded foliage around your property.
Sources
- University of Kentucky Entomology. "Ticks and Disease in Kentucky." https://entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef618 (opens in a new tab)
- University of Kentucky Entomology. "Lone Star Ticks." https://entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef648 (opens in a new tab)