If you've heard about Asian longhorned ticks and wonder whether they could turn up in your Westwood yard, it helps to know what they look like and how they behave. This invasive tick was first identified in the United States in New Jersey, and it has since been found in many other states. It doesn't look dramatic, but it has an unusual way of reproducing that can lead to large numbers in one spot. Below, we'll cover how to identify the Asian longhorned tick, where it lives, whether it's a health concern and how to protect your family and pets. If ticks are a regular problem on your property, our tick control services can help reduce them around your home.
What The Asian Longhorned Tick Is
The Asian longhorned tick is native to eastern Asia and has also become established in Australia and New Zealand. It's a hard tick, like the deer tick and the dog tick, but it's smaller than many of the ticks people know. Key features include:
- Color. Plain reddish-brown, with no white or silver markings on the back.
- Size. Small. Nymphs and larvae are tiny and easy to miss on skin or fur.
- Mouthparts. Short, with small spurs that give the tick its "longhorned" name.
Because it's small and plain, it's easy to confuse with other ticks. A close-up photo or a saved specimen is the best way to get it identified. Try not to crush a tick you want identified, since a damaged specimen is much harder to examine.
Why It Can Show Up In Large Numbers
What makes this tick stand out is how it reproduces. Females can lay fertile eggs without mating. That means a single tick that drops off a deer or a dog can start a whole new population. When conditions are right, people have found many ticks clustered on one animal or crawling on the same patch of grass.
The tick feeds on a wide range of hosts, including deer, dogs, cats, livestock, other mammals and birds. People can be bitten too, though it's often found on animals first. In practice, that means a dog that spends time in tall grass is often the first place a homeowner notices this tick.
Where It Lives In Your Yard
Like many ticks, the Asian longhorned tick waits on vegetation for a host to brush past. Watch the following areas:
- Tall grass. Unmowed lawn edges, fields and overgrown strips along fences.
- Brushy borders. The edge where your lawn meets woods, shrubs or ground cover.
- Wildlife paths. Spots where deer or other animals regularly cross your property.
- Pet resting spots. Shaded areas outdoors where dogs lie down.
To compare it with the ticks more familiar in New Jersey, see our guide to telling a wood tick vs. deer tick apart.
Is It A Health Concern?
In its native range, the Asian longhorned tick is known to carry diseases that affect people and animals. In the United States, researchers are still studying what role it plays in spreading disease here. For livestock, heavy infestations can be a serious concern, and agriculture officials track the tick closely.
For your family, the practical advice is the same as for any tick: avoid bites and check for ticks after time outdoors. If you're bitten and feel unwell, or if a bite worries you, see a doctor. For pets, talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention.
How To Protect Your Home And Pets
- Keep grass short. Mow regularly and trim along fences, walls and play areas.
- Clear leaf litter and brush. Remove piles where ticks find shade and moisture.
- Create a dry border. A strip of gravel or wood chips between lawn and woods discourages ticks from crossing into play areas.
- Use pet tick prevention. Ask your veterinarian which product is right for each pet, and check pets after walks.
- Do tick checks. Check yourself and your kids after yard work or time near tall grass.
- Save a specimen. If you find a tick you can't identify, put it in a sealed bag or jar. Your county extension office or local health department can tell you where to send it.
When To Call A Professional
If you're finding ticks on your pets or family regularly, or you've seen several ticks clustered together, it's time for a closer look at your yard. Our NJ DEP-licensed technicians inspect your property to find the areas where ticks are most likely to live and recommend a plan to reduce them. We use Integrated Pest Management and EPA-registered, eco-safe products, and we'll tell you about any temporary precautions for kids and pets. Our tick work is backed by the EcoGuard Guarantee, with free inspections and same-day or next-day service.
The Asian longhorned tick is small and easy to overlook, but simple habits go a long way. Keeping your lawn trimmed, your pets protected and your eyes open will help keep your Westwood yard a safer place to spend time.