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Asian Longhorned Tick Confirmed in Maine, Farthest Northeast U.S. Detection to Date

Officials have launched targeted surveillance to assess potential health risks.

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A map from the USDA shows where the Asian longhorned ticks have been spotted in the U.S.
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Overview

  • The specimen, a juvenile unable to reproduce, was collected in southern Maine in July and confirmed by the UMaine Extension Tick Lab.
  • Targeted follow-up in the surrounding area found no additional Asian longhorned ticks, indicating no evidence of an established population at the site.
  • UMaine and state agencies are coordinating with federal partners on continued monitoring and research into the tick’s pathogen transmission potential in U.S. environments.
  • The invasive species, first confirmed in the U.S. in 2017, has been detected in more than 20 states and can seed large infestations because females reproduce without mating.
  • Public guidance emphasizes rigorous tick checks, protective clothing, EPA-registered repellents, permethrin-treated gear, and submitting suspected ticks to identification programs.