Geographic occurrence of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting white-tailed deer in North Carolina.

A state-wide survey to determine the occurrence and comparative numbers of ticks infecting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was conducted in North Carolina (USA). One thousand six hundred twenty nine deer were examined in 60 of 100 counties; with the exception of one county in the piedmont region, all tick-infested deer occurred in the coastal plain. Ixodes scapularis (46%) and Amblyomma americanum (53%) were the most prevalent species encountered and accounted for more than 98% of the 4,286 ticks collected. Some specimens of Dermacentor albipictus and Amblyomma maculatum also were collected.