If you spend time outdoors in Mt. Juliet, Nashville, Hermitage, Lebanon, Smyrna, Franklin, or Brentwood, there’s one tick you’ll hear about over and over: the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). It’s common across Tennessee, aggressive, and known for biting people in multiple life stages. 

Armor Termite and Pest Control (veteran-owned, locally operated)  to help Middle Tennessee homeowners understand where lone star ticks live, when they’re most active, what health risks they carry, and how to control them with practical DIY steps and professional options.

Unlike other tick species that might avoid human contact, all life stages of the lone star tick actively seek human hosts, making them a year round concern for Tennessee families. At Armor Termite and Pest Control, we’ve seen a significant increase in lone star tick encounters across Wilson, Davidson, and Sumner counties over the past decade.

Health Risks: Why Lone Star Tick Control Matters

Lone star ticks aren’t just a nuisance—they’re vectors for several serious diseases affecting Tennessee residents:

Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (HME)

• Bacterial infection with flu-like symptoms
• Fever, headache, muscle aches, malaise
• Can be severe without prompt treatment
• 16 cases reported in Tennessee in recent surveillance

 Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI)

• Expanding bull’s-eye rash similar to Lyme disease
• Accompanied by fatigue, fever, headache
• Joint and muscle pain common
• Causative agent still under research

While professional treatment provides the most comprehensive protection, homeowners can take several steps to reduce tick encounters:

Yard Maintenance

1. Keep grass short: Mow regularly to 3 inches or less
2. Remove leaf litter: Especially along property edges
3. Create barriers: Use gravel or wood chips between lawn and woods
4. Stack wood neatly: Keep firewood dry and away from house
5. Remove bird feeders: Or place them away from high-traffic areas
6. Clear tall grasses: Eliminate tick waiting areas

How To Do a Tick Check (Fast Routine)

Do this after yard work, hikes, or playing with pets outdoors:

Check behind knees, waistband, underarms, and hairline

Look around sock lines and inside shoes

Shower soon after outdoor activity

Toss worn clothes into the dryer (heat helps)

How To Remove a Tick (Safe & Simple)

Use fine-tipped tweezers

Grasp the tick close to the skin

Pull upward with steady, even pressure

Clean the area

Keep tick in a plastic ziplock which you can give to health care profesional 

Monitor for symptoms (rash, fever, fatigue)