It’s only a matter of time before Asian Longhorn Ticks are discovered in MA

Asian Longhorned Ticks are here to stay. The big question is, what negative effect will they have on our environment?

We’re in the research stage. So far the ticks collected have not shown any signs of disease, and that’s a huge relief for now! But that should not be an excuse to lower our guard.

Reported for the first time in the United States in 2017. Asian Longhorned Ticks have been found on pets, livestock, wildlife, and people. What makes the female ticks so worrisome is the ability to lay eggs and reproduce without mating. Unlike native ticks, thousands of Asian Longhorn Ticks can be found at a time, or even on an animal.

In other countries, bites from these ticks can make people and animals seriously ill. This information was gathered from the CDC. As of Oct. 2, 2018, Asian Longhorned Ticks have been found in AR, CT, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, VA.