Watch out! Watch out! There’s a new tick about!

Watch out! Watch out! There’s a new tick about!

Yes, that’s right! As if there weren’t already enough of these pesky critters making our lives a misery, there’s another species of tick to add to the list. The East Asian or longhorned tick had up until now only been found in the U.S in parts of New Jersey. However, this disease spreading pest has now made its way into Virginia and also parts of Arkansas. Here’s more information…

VCE warns of new species of tick in Virginia

When it comes to parasites….the phrase “ticked off” (in the sense of freedom from the little blood suckers), is a desirable goal. The Virginia Extension Service has some advice on avoiding the rascals. Unfortunately, there is also news on a new tick “in the neighborhood” so to speak. The Virginia Extension Service reports locals should be on the lookout for a new tick “in the neighborhood” this season, the East Asian or Longhorned Tick. Livestock producers and owners should notify their local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent or the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services if they notice any unusual ticks not been seen before or if the ticks occur in large numbers on an individual animal.

Not all ticks carry disease, but it’s better to make sure you take every prevention step possible to protect yourself, your pets, your kids and of course any livestock from a potential life-threatening bite!

Lyme disease is the most commonly known tick-borne virus. Some parts of the United States are lucky enough not to have a big problem with Lyme, but that’s not to say that circumstances won’t change if we don’t take action.

To date, there’s no evidence that the Asian longhorned tick transmits Lyme disease, but here’s what you should be looking out for to identify this new species of tick.

What you need to know about Asian longhorned ticks

Not normally found in the Western Hemisphere, these ticks were reported for the first time in the United States in 2017. Asian longhorned ticks have been found on pets, livestock, wildlife, and people.
The female ticks can lay eggs and reproduce without mating. Up to thousands of ticks may be found at a time, or on an animal.

Do you know what to do if you find a tick on yourself, someone else or even your pet? Do you know how to remove a tick safely? Taking a short amount of time to educate yourself about these little critters is crucial when it comes to keeping yourself safe from ticks.