What's Eating You? Turkey Mite and Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)

The layman’s term for the larval and nymphal stages of the tick Amblyomma americanum is turkey mite (or turkey tick) related to its close association with the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). The term seed tick is more general and includes the larval stages of other tick species. In their larval stage, turkey mites are of dermatologic importance because they can transmit life-threatening diseases; the initial presentation of their infestation can easily be overlooked.