Asian Longhorned Ticks
Haemaphysalis longicornisAsian Longhorned Tick Identification
Pest Stats
Color
Reddish-brown when unfed and grey when full of blood
Legs
Adults have 8 legs, Larvae have 6 legs
Shape
Oval
Size
Longhorned ticks grow to the size of a pea when engorged, size of poppy seed when not
Antennae
No
Region
Northeast and Southeast United States
Asian Longhorned Tick Prevention
Make sure to also take preventative measures to keep ticks off of your property. Keep grass cut low to prevent ticks from hiding amongst greenery, and clear overgrown vegetation or brush to eliminate tick habitats. Build fencing around the yard to keep wild animals from carrying ticks onto your property. If you are concerned about Asian longhorned ticks on your property, contact a licensed pest control professional.

Asian Longhorned Tick Education
Habits
The female Asian longhorned tick has the unique ability to lay eggs and reproduce without mating. As a result, they can lay up to 2,000 new eggs after feeding without a male counterpart. This species is most commonly discovered attached to livestock and wildlife, but they can also latch on to pets and people.
Habitats
Although research is still being done to learn more about this new invasive species, Asian longhorned ticks seem to survive best in tall grass and weeds. As of 2021, this species has been discovered in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Threats
The Asian longhorned tick is a vector of diseases such as bovine theileriosis and babesiosis. These can be transmitted to cattle and domesticated animals in other countries; however, these ticks have not yet been found to vector disease in the United States. This tick is a threat to warm-blooded animals because of its ability to reproduce so quickly. If too many Asian longhorned ticks attach to the same animal, there could be significant blood loss and eventual death for the host, which has been found to happen to cattle and sheep outside of the US. For cattle and goats who are bitten by this tick, the amount of milk produced can be greatly reduced. Research is still ongoing to determine the level of risk this species poses to humans but people should be more concerned about native tick species that do spread disease to humans. Currently, the main danger known of the Asian longhorned tick is to livestock.