DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. (WDNews) — Alabama agriculture officials are warning livestock producers, pet owners and outdoor enthusiasts after the invasive Asian longhorned tick was confirmed in the state for the first time.
According to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) was detected on a dog in DeKalb County in April. The species is native to eastern Asia and was first confirmed in the United States in 2017. It has since been reported in multiple states across the eastern United States.
Officials say the tick poses a significant threat because females can reproduce without mating and may lay between 1,000 and 2,000 eggs at a time, allowing populations to grow rapidly…