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Cattle-killing tick: A new study
23.11.2023 01:40
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:22
A bunch of unusual ticks showed up in Ohio, causing trouble on a farm.
These ticks, known as Asian longhorned ticks, were discovered in large numbers, and their feeding frenzy led to the death of three cattle.
Researchers found that these ticks are now hanging out in Ohio, and they're studying them to figure out how to deal with the problem.
They don't harm people
Luckily, these ticks don't seem to be a big danger to people. They mostly like to bother big animals like cows and deer.
Some of the ticks from the farm had some germs, but the risk to humans seems low for now.
These ticks are pretty tiny, like the size of a sesame seed or a pea when they're full of blood.
The researchers found that these ticks are tough - they came back to the farm even after pesticides were used in 2021.
The problem can become bigger
The not-so-good news is that these ticks are probably going to spread all over Ohio, and it's going to be hard to get rid of them.
They first showed up in the United States in 2017 in New Jersey, and now they're causing issues in Ohio.
The ticks are known for reproducing a lot - each female can lay up to 2,000 eggs, and those eggs can grow up and have more eggs, causing a big tick problem.
Why it's important
The researchers are trying to learn more about these ticks and how to manage them.
They say that just spraying pesticides might not be enough, and they need a plan that includes different ways to control these ticks.
They are working quickly to gather information and give advice to the people dealing with this tick invasion, especially those in the farming industry.
One suggestion is to check livestock for ticks to stop them from spreading to different places.
