NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — New World Screwworm has been one of the biggest livestock health concerns facing the agriculture industry this year, but researchers say producers also need to keep an eye on another invasive pest.
The Asian longhorned tick may be relatively new to the United States, but experts warn its ability to reproduce quickly could make it a serious threat to livestock producers.
Bill Halfman, a University of Wisconsin livestock educator, says the tick has a unique reproductive advantage because females can reproduce without males.
“The tick is an interesting creature in that it doesn’t need to mate with males in order to reproduce,” Halfman said. “Most of the ticks that are hatched out in the United States are females, and they can go through their life cycle and then lay eggs and reproduce without male ticks, which makes them able to multiply very rapidly.”
Halfman says the tick has not yet been detected in Wisconsin, but producers should regularly inspect livestock for signs of infestation.
“In pasture fields where they become established and find a lot of species to feed on and reproduce, they can multiply quite rapidly,” Halfman said.
The Asian longhorned tick has already been identified in several Midwest states, including Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Halfman says the pest can spread as it attaches itself to animals being transported across the country.
One of the biggest concerns is the tick’s ability to spread disease. Currently, there is no vaccine available for Theileria, a disease that can be transmitted by ticks. While cases remain limited, Halfman says infected animals can die after being bitten by a tick carrying the disease.
Meanwhile, researchers are exploring new technologies to fight invasive pests, including gene-edited insects.
AgraGene is developing sterile male insects that can compete with wild pest populations, reducing numbers without the use of pesticides. The company says the technology could eventually help combat pests like New World Screwworm.
However, researchers say the technology may first be used in fruit production, where invasive pests can cause major economic losses. Even small infestations can prevent fruit from reaching consumers because of quality and freshness concerns.
The sterile insect technique works by releasing sterile males that compete with wild populations, reducing reproduction rates over time.
Researchers say continued investment in new pest management tools could provide another line of defense against invasive species threatening agriculture and livestock.
