this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2025
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Unusually aggressive lone star ticks, common in the south-east, are spreading to areas previously too cold for them

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[–] leadore@lemmy.world 38 points 7 months ago (2 children)

The syndrome is not caused by a pathogen but spurs an allergy to a sugar molecule found in mammals and an array of other things, from toothpaste to medical equipment.

Lone star ticks are aggressive and can speedily follow a human target if they detect them. “They will hunt you, they are like a cross between a lentil and a velociraptor,” said Sharon Pitcairn Forsyth, a conservationist who lives in the Washington DC area.

A particular horror is the prospect of brushing up against vegetation containing a massed ball of juvenile lone star ticks, know as a “tick bomb”, that can deliver thousands of tick bites. “They are so tiny you can’t see them but you have to take it seriously or you’ll never get them off you,” said Forsyth, who now carries around a lint roller to remove such clusters.

[–] lemmylump@lemmy.world 28 points 7 months ago (4 children)

Many years ago my dog brought in a tic bomb, and got into bed with me. I awoke to my left arm and hand covered in so many sesema seed sized tics I could not even see my skin.

It took hours to get them off me and my dog.

I dodged a bullet cause I didn't get any illnesses, nor did my dog.

I'm still freaked out though.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Straight nightmare fuel, Jesus Christ mate...

[–] Faildini@lemmy.world 15 points 7 months ago

This happened to me once (with deer ticks, not lone star) while I was having a nice walk in the woods high on shrooms. Worst trip of my life.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 11 points 7 months ago

Why did I read this in bed

[–] leadore@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

I wonder if the tick bomb babies are less likely to transmit anything because they probably haven't fed on anything yet? I would think they'd have to feed on a mammal to get the compound into their saliva.

[–] leadore@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

😱 😱 😱 !

[–] starchylemming@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

thats fucking terrifying. imma stay inside