Gulf Coast tick

Amblyomma maculatum

Where found: Coastal areas of the U.S. along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico.

Transmits: Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, a form of spotted fever.

Comments: Larvae and nymphs feed on birds and small rodents, while adult ticks feed on deer and other wildlife. Adult ticks have been associated with transmission of R. parkeri to humans.