Does anyone know what this is? I found it crawling on my son’s leg after a walk in the woods. It looked like a tick… but that weird white spot really freaked me out. I’m kinda scared. Has anyone seen one like this before? Should I be worried?

 

Does Anyone Know What This Is? I Found It Crawling on My Son’s Leg After a Walk in the Woods…

You’re out enjoying a peaceful walk in the woods with your child. The air is fresh, the birds are chirping, and everything feels perfect—until you get home and notice something crawling on your son’s leg.

At first glance, it looks like a tick. Your heart sinks. But then you notice something unusual: a distinct white spot on its back.

Suddenly, panic sets in.

Is it dangerous?
Is it poisonous?
Can it spread disease?
Should you rush to the emergency room?

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If this situation sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many parents have experienced this exact moment of fear after discovering what appears to be a tick—especially one with a strange white marking. In most cases, that insect turns out to be the lone star tick, a species that has been spreading across many wooded and grassy regions.

Let’s break down what it likely is, what that white spot means, whether you should be worried, and exactly what to do next.

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What Is That Tick with a White Spot?

If the bug you found had a single, noticeable white or silvery dot on its back, it was most likely the female Amblyomma americanum, commonly known as the lone star tick.**

The white marking is not mold.
It’s not a parasite.
It’s not an egg sac.

It’s a natural identifying feature of the adult female lone star tick.

The name “lone star” actually comes from that single white spot, which resembles the star on the Texas flag.

Male lone star ticks look slightly different—they don’t have one solid white dot. Instead, they may have scattered white streaks