A new invasive species of tick native to China and other countries in the region was discovered in Maine for the first time, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) confirmed on Tuesday, and it can cause an infestation from just one individual, experts said.
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The UMaine Extension Tick Lab confirmed the presence of an Asian longhorned tick in Cumberland County, the first instance of this invasive species in Maine.
The tick’s presence was first confirmed in the U.S. in New Jersey in 2017 and has since spread across 20 states. The single tick found in Maine was a juvenile incapable of reproduction, and a subsequent review of the surrounding area did not detect any additional specimens.
“While this appears to be an isolated case, we are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with state and federal partners. Early detection is essential to understanding and mitigating the potential risks associated with this species,” said Griffin Dill, director of the UMaine Extension Tick Lab.
Just because additional specimens have yet to be discovered during the most recent search does not mean Maine has not already become infested with the new breed of tick.
Unlike other tick species, the Asian longhorn tick is capable of asexual reproduction, meaning that it can uniquely create infestations from a single individual. If there is even one additional tick in the area that the UMaine survey did not catch, it may already be too late to stop an infestation across the state.
The ticks pose a particular threat to livestock and have previously been shown to carry Theileria orientalis, a disease that causes significant illness in cattle.
Monitoring efforts remain ongoing.
