A new species of tick has found its way to North Carolina, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And it's not too far from the South Carolina border.
A Longhorned tick was located on an opossum in Polk County earlier this month, according to a news release. This particular type of tick has also been found in Arkansas, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia, although it originates from East Asia.
While the Longhorned tick is known to be a serious pest to agriculture in its native land, it hasn't been linked to any human infection in the U.S., the release stated. Officials are still tracking the species to see if they carry any diseases.
“The good news is that the Longhorned ticks respond to insecticides used to control other common species of ticks on pets and livestock," Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a release.
