Foreign Tick On The Move

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture announced the discovery of Asian Longhorned ticks in Putnam county.

Agricultural University of Tennessee Extension agent Wayne Key said the foreign ticks could make people sick.

“The thing about these ticks is, outside of the United States, the ticks has been shown to carry anaplasmosis and a couple of other viruses,” Key said. “As of to date there are no agents that have been infectious that have been identified and found in the United States.”

In May 2019 the ticks were found in Union and Roane counties. Six other counties have made the list since then. Humans are one of the 17 species that can be infected with a virus or disease a tick may carry, Key said. He adds they are more likely to affect pets and livestock.

“The biggest thing is protecting yourself and your pets using flea and tick collars on pets that are outside, keeping your grass and weeds trimmed along the edge,” Key said. “These ticks like to over winter live and survive in overgrown brush and pastures and yards.”

For adults, Key suggests using any EPA approved anti-tick repellent.

These ticks are difficult to detect. Key gives a few tips on identifying these small invaders.

“The biggest thing is to keep an eye on them,” Key said. “These ticks are very small, they’re light brown in color, they’re very plain on their backside, they don’t have any markings. They’re very small like a deer tick. Most, all of them that you see, they’re all female. The younger ones that are not mature are about the size of a poppy seed. They’re very small.”

Scientists are studying these species and how to protect pet owners and livestock at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.