As you enjoy the warm summer weather, don’t ignore the pesky insects that come along with it. Tennessee is home to several different types of ticks, and if you’re unfortunate enough to be bitten, it’s important to know the different effects:

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The American dog tick is dark brown with silver streaks on its back. Only adults are found on humans, but this type of tick can transmit the Rocky Mountain spotted fever organism, but luckily, the carrying percentage is low. The American dog tick is most frequently found in the spring and early summer.

The lone star tick is reddish-brown in color and smaller than the American dog tick with a long, large snout. Victims of a bite from a lone star tick may find discolored, itchy spots that can take up to two weeks to heal. In some cases, they may develop a meat allergy.

The brown dog tick looks like the American dog tick, but it’s a bit smaller and doesn’t have silver markings on its back. This tick preys mostly on dogs, not humans, and can be found in places frequented by dogs.

For more in-depth information, contact your local agricultural extension office.