The Asian longhorned tick in South Carolina is, unfortunately, part of our conversations about summer. When it comes to pests it seems that palmetto bugs (aka, cockroaches) and mosquitoes hog most of the air time. Yet, we have our fair share of plenty of other pests, and unfortunately, it’s time for a conversation about one of those. A new type of tick has made its way to the United States, first spotted in South Carolina on Sept. 17, 2018, according to a March 7, 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since then people have wondered: Do I need to be concerned about this pest, too? Let's take a look at this pesky Asian longhorned tick.

Of the five most common ticks in South Carolina, the Lonestar tick is the one most collected.

It can cause several illnesses, including alpha-gal allergy, a red meat allergy.

This is devastating if you're part of the Lewis Barbecue cult following.

The newer type of tick in South Carolina is the Asian longhorned tick, which made its way from Asia into the United States.

They are light brown and tiny creatures, first discovered in 2010 in West Virginia on a white-tailed deer.

It was first discovered in South Carolina on a human in York County.

Then in June 2022, an infestation of the Asian longhorned ticks was found in a cattle farm pasture in York County.

According to Dr. Melissa Nolan, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the Arnold School of Public Health and Director for the University of South Carolina Laboratory of Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, “The concern, really, is that this tick could overwhelm livestock, or dogs, or people. So you could be out walking in the field with your dog, and you could get hundreds of ticks."

Pictured here is a pregnant, engorged female Asian longhorned tick. This species can reproduce at an abnormally high rate, because it does not need a male for reproduction. A single female can produce 1,000 to 2,000 eggs at a time without mating.

Think about the ticks before you go out camping in the woods and take precautions.

Tips from DHEC for preventing tick bites and possible exposure to tick-borne illnesses include things such as keeping weeds and tall grass cut, avoiding tick-infested places such as grassy and marshy woodland areas when possible, treating clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks, and tents with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin.

Other tips include wearing protective clothing tucked in around the ankles and waist, and showering with soap and shampoo soon after being outdoors.

A $585,000 grant was awarded to Dr. Nolan by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enable a South Carolina tick surveillance program to expand its efforts.

The public is asked to carefully submit ticks suspected to be Asian longhorned ticks for confirmatory identification. You may find some while hiking in South Carolina - one of our favorite pastimes.

To participate, carefully collect a tick by using gloved hands, tweezers, or another tool and send collected ticks, alive or dead, in a puncture-resistant sealable vial or zippered storage bag.

Mail it to Laboratory of Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 921 Assembly Street #417A, Columbia, SC 29201.

Please include your name and phone number, the address or description of where the tick was collected, the date of collection, and indicate the host (person or animal).

By sending in ticks collected from yourself, your pets, and your livestock, a better understanding of tick species and their pathogens distribution can be gained. This information is expected to be used to develop more effective vector control and veterinary health responses.

The Asian longhorned tick in South Carolina might be something you have spotted. If so, where did you see it? Did you know that you could collect ticks when you come across them to send in to help with efforts to improve how we deal with these nasty pests? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! Discover more about these creatures on the USDA website.

In the meantime, before you go out in the woods, find some good tick repellent. And head out confidently to one of the little-known hiking trails in South Carolina.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/south-carolina/little-known-hiking-path-sc/