Surveillance and detection of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in protected areas from Georgia, USA

The invasion of the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, into the United States poses a

significant ecological, veterinarian, and public health threat. We conducted a comprehensive tick survey using

standard tick flagging protocol for collection over 3 field seasons, March–August, and 56 surveyed sites to

identify the presence of H. longicornis in the native ecosystem and prove its establishment according to USDA

criteria. Of the total 56 state parks and wildlife management areas (WMA) surveyed, only one was found to

be invaded by H. longicornis; detection of H. longicornis occurred at Buck Shoals Wildlife Management area

in White County, GA. This site is maintained by the state of Georgia, has no agricultural animals present, and

hosts a large white-tailed deer population. After the initial detection of H. longicornis in 2022, an additional

field season occurred in 2023, where H. longicornis was confirmed as established based on USDA criteria. The

increase in H. longicornis populations from 2021 to 2023 at Buck Shoals WMA points to the rapid spread of this

tick within the environment. Our findings provide evidence of the rapid establishment of H. longicornis in the

southern edge of suitability for this tick and within the native ecosystem beyond farmlands and private land.