Kentucky residents can submit ticks to UK for examination

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Since his days as a child in 4H, Jonathan Larson’s ardour has at all times been bugs. 

“I at all times needed to speak about science. That’s what I needed to do for a job and entomology is a discipline that actually opens that avenue up. Folks have emotions about bugs, good or unhealthy, and it’s at all times type of a starter for dialog,” he shared. Larson is an extension entomologist on the College of Kentucky.

As an extension entomologist, Larson’s ardour is serving extra than simply his six-legged and typically eight-legged buddies.

Larson offers research-based details about totally different bugs, like ticks. There are over 700 species of ticks worldwide.

“After we obtain them, we’re right here for identification after which we are able to inform folks what kind of tick they had been uncovered to, if the tick had bitten them and if they need to seek the advice of a doctor after that,” Larson stated.

There are a number of ticks that may be discovered throughout Kentucky, together with the Lone Star tick, American Canine tick, Blacklegged tick, Winter tick, Brown Canine tick, Asian Lengthy-horned tick and the Gulf Coast tick.

The Blacklegged tick is 12 months spherical, with adults energetic from October via June and with nymphs being energetic Might via August. Blacklegged ticks are identified for carrying Lyme Illness.

Ticks additionally tend to cover in overgrown areas out of direct daylight.

“They’re ready on the finish of it, sort of with their arms stretched out in entrance of them after which they’re ready to provide them their creepy little hug to allow them to shimmy up the leg of no matter host they’ve chosen or lucked into,” Larson stated.

Recently he has seen a rise in tick questions and sightings.

American Canine tick (Jonathan Larson)

In accordance with a June examine printed by BMJ World Well being, round 14% of the world’s inhabitants possible has had Lyme Illness.

“There’s a type of northern variant, Blacklegged Deer tick, which is the vector of Lyme and that northern variant is extra incessantly on folks and they’re extra incessantly contaminated with Lyme, the pathogen that causes it as a result of they feed on deer extra readily than the southern variant,” Larson stated.

That’s the place Larson comes into assist. The Tick Surveillance Mission at UK permits Kentucky residents to submit a tick to the college’s staff for examination.

“It’s a chance to submit this blood feeding ninja that received your physique and began feeding on you or in your canine and to assist us determine what ticks reside in what counties and what attainable pathogens could also be in these counties,” Larson stated.

The College of Kentucky offers step-by-step directions for those who’re interested by submitting a tick to the Kentucky Tick Surveillance Mission.