Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) primarily live in wooded areas with dense underbrush, especially in second-growth forests where white-tailed deer- their primary host-are common. They are often found in ecotonal zones, such as the edges between forests and grasslands, and in areas with thick vegetation like tall grass and shrubs where they can "quest" for hosts by climbing onto vegetation and waiting for animals or humans to pass by

. Geographically, lone star ticks are widely distributed across the eastern, southeastern, and south-central United States. Their range extends as far west as Texas and southern parts of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The northern range reaches up to New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and possibly Maine. They have also been reported outside their typical range in southern Ontario, Canada

. In summary, lone star ticks live mainly in:

• Wooded areas with dense undergrowth and thick vegetation
• Ecotonal zones between forests and grasslands
• Regions across the eastern, southeastern, south-central, and parts of the midwestern United States, with some sightings in southern Canada

They prefer habitats where hosts like white-tailed deer and other medium to large mammals are common