Thanks to the fact there’s more international travel than ever before, invasive species are frequently in the news. From plants to arachnids to reptiles, it’s not uncommon for species to end up where they’re not supposed to. Whether it’s a stowaway insect on a decorative plant shipped overseas from China or an escaped pet snake, we even have invasive species in Kansas. One invasive species that’s been in the news lately is the Asian longhorned tick. This arachnid is considered an agricultural pest and it’s been spotted in around 20 states, including our neighbor, Missouri. It’s extremely likely we already have Asian longhorned ticks in Kansas – after all, these little critters aren’t aware of state lines!

The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is also known as the longhorned tick or bush tick. Like all ticks, they're parasitic arachnids that live off the blood of mammals, birds, and/or reptiles.
James Gathany/Wikimedia Commons
Asian longhorned ticks are typically found in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Egizi AM, Robbins RG, Beati L, Nava S, Evans CR, Occi JL, Fonseca DM/Wikimedia Commons
Ticks of all species pose a danger to people and domestic pets. Any time you or your pets have been outside in warm weather, make sure to check yourself over carefully for ticks. This is especially true in forested, brushy areas or grassy fields.
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Thousands of ticks can be present in one small area of land and you won't necessarily feel a bite, so it's important to be thorough in your search.

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Ticks are known to carry diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. There hasn't been any spread of disease by Asian longhorned ticks in the U.S., but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Commonsource/Wikimedia Commons
If you find a tick on you or an animal, use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up. Clean the bite area with soap and water and dispose of the tick by placing it in a sealed container and then either killing it in the freezer or with alcohol.
Commonsource/Wikimedia Commons

For more information about Asian longhorned ticks and tick removal, check out the Centers for Disease Control website.

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