I was out in the backyard a few weeks ago, attempting to cut grass with my get old, broken-down lawnmower. My dog, a big, friendly golden retriever named Mochi, had stretched out under our oak tree, probably grateful that he didn’t have to lift a paw to help.

I recall having this itchy sensation, (I’m itching right now as I’m remembering it) almost like a tickle but not quite, on my ankle. At first I thought it was a mosquito. But when I looked down, I saw something very very alarming – a black speck that seemed to have no intention of ever flying away. Without even thinking about it, I slowly removed it from my skin. There it was, a lone star tick—unmistakable with its white spot.

I have always been someone who easily ignores almost all the discomforts that nature has to offer. Mosquito bites? Some lotion for the itch, and I’m good to go. Bee sting? Sure, it hurts, but nothing a bit of ice can’t improve. But ticks? When it comes to them, I can start screaming and crying at the same time. Not only that they’re completely DISGUSTING, they can introduce many health issues.

First things first, let’s get to know our enemy. I wish I’d gone through my whole life without ever knowing anything about ticks, but alas, here we are. The lone star tick is not just any run-of-the-mill tick. It got its name from the single white spot on the dorsal side of the females, which is about the only cute thing about this creature(if we can even call it that). This tick is known to be quite vicious. Unlike some ticks that wait for a host to come close enough, the lone star tick actively searches for a host. It will actually SEEK YOU OUT (so creepy, makes me itch all over thinking about it). This is why it’s important to be aware of it, especially if you are in wooded or grassy area.