Two exotic tick species found in Rhode Island for the first time, officials say - Fox News

Two exotic species of ticks have been discovered for the first time in Rhode Island, state officials announced Monday.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said both Asian and Eurasian ticks were discovered on Block Island as part of a decade-long study of ticks on the island.

The ticks were discovered by Danielle M.

Tufts identified the tick species Haemaphysalis longicornis, also known as the Asian longhorn tick, and Haemaphysalis punctata when studying ticks on Block Island this summer.

The Asian longhorn tick was first detected in the U.S.

Asian longhorned ticks were first discovered in the U.S.

"The Asian longhorned tick is considered a serious threat to livestock in Australia and New Zealand, where it is invasive," the agency said Monday.

A map showing the potential range of the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in North America, according to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology!

"The finding on Block Island is notable because this tick is not known to exist outside of its home range," state officials said.

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