Who had cow killing ticks on their Bingo card for 2024?
An invasive species of tick from Asia has been spotted in the United States, and it is spreading rapidly.
According to the USDA, the Asian longhorned tick has spread to 19 US states since 2017.
Known as the “cow-killing tick,” this species reproduces very quickly.
The USDA claims that it “poses a serious threat to livestock.”
Each tick is only the size of a sesame seed, but they have been known to quickly swarm cattle to the point that they die of exsanguination, meaning that a cow’s blood is drained at so quick a rate that they die immediately.
researcher say no other species of tick in North America is able to populate as quickly as the Asian longhorned tick, making it a serious threat to cattle farmers.
The Gateway Pundit broke the story:
The Asian longhorned tick is rapidly gaining a foothold in the United States and “poses a serious threat to livestock” according to the USDA.
Since its discovery and proper identification in 2017, the coverage area of the tick has spread to 19 U.S. states, the USDA reported.
The deadly consequence of their expansion was shared by Ohio State University researchers in the Journal of Medical Entomology: Two cows and one large bull died from exsanguination by the ticks, meaning drained of blood to the point of death.
Each unfortunate cow likely endured tens of thousands of bites.
While only the size of a sesame seed, these tiny ticks have huge population potential, with the ability to form massive colonies in a short amount of time.
MSN has more on this invasive tick:
The tick’s secret weapon is the ability for females to lay 2,000 eggs at a time — without the necessity of a male.
Part of assessing the risk posed by these exponentially reproducing ticks includes an analysis of disease spread to both livestock and humans.
According to the CDC, the Asian longhorned tick has been found on both animals and people but, thankfully, seems to prefer animal hosts to people.
The CDC also said the invasive tick is unlikely to contribute to the spread of Lyme disease, according to one experimental study.
However, these ticks have the ability to “carry and spread” certain diseases, should they come in contact with them.
Naturally, many people have their own theories as to how this species got into the United States…
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