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Asian Longhorned Tick Identified in Kansas

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The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Agriculture are alerting the public to the first known occurrence of the Asian longhorned tick (ALHT), Haemaphysalis longicornis, in Kansas. KDHE identified the ALHT after it was found on a dog in Franklin County last week.

ALHT is an exotic, invasive tick species that was first identified in the United States in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, it has spread westward across the U.S. and, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has now been documented in 21 states, with Kansas being the most recent (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/asian-longhorned/asian-longhorned-tick-what-you-need-know).

“We have been monitoring the spread of the Asian longhorned tick, especially since it was confirmed in neighboring states,” said Kansas Animal Health Commissioner Dr. Justin Smith. “Now that it has been identified in Kansas, we have been in contact with accredited veterinarians across the state to remind them to be alert for this tick and to ensure they understand the risks.”

This prolific tick, which can reproduce without the need for a male tick, has both human and animal health implications. In 2019, an ALHT in Virginia was found to be infected with Bourbon virus, while Connecticut recently identified an ALHT infected with ehrlichiosis, both of which are tick-borne diseases that occur in Kansas but are currently transmitted by the Lone Star tick.

“We’re still learning about this tick and the ecologic role that it currently plays and may play in the future in terms of disease transmission to humans” Dr. Erin Petro, KDHE State Public Health Veterinarian, said. “While the human health implications are uncertain, this tick has serious implications for animal health.”

The ALHT can cause extreme infestations on affected animals, sometimes leading to severe anemia or even exsanguination. Beyond the physical threat, the ALHT also transmits the cattle parasite Theileria orientalis Ikeda strain, which causes bovine theileriosis.

In 2024, KDHE piloted a program to create a passive tick surveillance network of veterinary clinics throughout the state. Through this program, participating clinics submit tick samples from animals in their care to KDHE for identification. This program has been successful in providing information on where various ticks are found across the state and has been especially useful in under-surveyed areas. One of these partners submitted a routine sample which was later identified as ALHT by KDHE and confirmed by the USDA. In both humans and animals, tick bite prevention is key.

To reduce the risk of disease, follow these precautions:

  • Be aware of where ticks are found and using preventive measures when in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas.
  • Dress preventively by wearing long pants tucked into socks and shirt tucked into pants.
  • Treat clothing and gear with permethrin.
  • Use an EPA-approved repellent such as DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) when enjoying the outdoors or being in a tick habitat.
  • After coming indoors, perform a thorough tick check, being sure to focus on the waistband, under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, back of knees, and in and around the hair.
  • Check pets for ticks, especially around the tail, between the back legs, under the front legs, between the toes, in and around the ears, around the eyes, and under the collar.
  • Shower soon after being in a tick habitat or engaging in outdoor activities. This will help remove any unattached ticks and identify any attached ticks.
  • To remove attached ticks, use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick near the skin, and apply gentle traction strait outwards until the tick is removed.
  • Help prevent tick-borne diseases and tick infestations on pets by consulting with your veterinarian on use of a veterinary-approved flea and tick preventative.
  • More information on tick bite prevention and controlling ticks in your environment can be found at Preventing Tick Bites | Ticks | CDC.

For more information on the Asian longhorned tick including where it has been found in the U.S., visit the USDA Longhorned Tick Story Map at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/asian-longhorned/asian-longhorned-tick-what-you-need-know. To find more information on other ticks, their geographic distributions, and the diseases they transmit in Kansas, visit KDHE’s Tickborne Disease Data Stories at https://maps.kdhe.state.ks.us/kstbdhome/.

Elvis’s underwear and troll among Kansas’s trippiest attractions

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Guest Columnist
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What is Kansas known for? For some, it’s Elvis Presley’s underwear, rocks shaped like mushrooms and a sculpture of a troll hidden beneath a storm grate.

These tourist attractions and others illustrate how Kansas can be “mind-bending in its own weird way,” says the website atlasobscura.com.

“Kansas is full of treasures that are sure to make you do a double take,” said an article featured on that site.

That piece, titled “10 Places to Trip Way Out in Kansas,” highlighted the following oddities.

Park features rocks resembling mushrooms

Rocks resembling mushrooms “seem to arise out of nowhere” at Mushroom Rock State Park northwest of Marquette in Ellsworth County in central Kansas, said atlasobscura.com.

The 5-acre park features “rare Dakota sandstone concretions, up to 27 feet in diameter, deposited 100 million years ago and since exposed by the relentless forces of erosion,” said the website for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Geography, of which the park is a part.

“The park was named, somewhat obviously, for its mushroom rocks, formations that occur when hard rock sits atop softer rock that erodes away over time, leaving the harder rock perched precariously on a soft rock ‘stem,'” said atlasobscura.com.

Museum of Odd items include Elvis Presley’s underwear

The Museum of Odd, maintained by artist Randy Walker in his home at 1012 New York in Lawrence, features celebrity memorabilia that includes Elvis Presley’s underwear and DNA, Charles Manson’s signature, Bob Barker’s toothbrush, a rock Helen Keller touched, and a piece of elephant poop painted to look like Adolph Hitler — and dubbed “Adolph Shitler.”

The museum is open by appointment only.

“Step inside and you’ll find shelves and tables packed with a bizarre blend of trinkets, including hundreds of sock monkeys, bottlecap people, aluminum cans turned into blossoming flowers, toothpick cabinets, and more,” said atlasobscura.com.

A sock monkey is a stuffed toy resembling a monkey, traditionally made from socks.

Wichita Troll sculpture hides beneath storm grate

“Without a plaque or any other indicator, the hidden troll lies in wait, chained beneath an unassuming storm grate in Wichita,” said atlasobscura.com. “Known as ‘The Wichita Troll‘ for lack of a proper name, this gruesome sculpture is a well-kept local secret — most visitors walk right over it and never know it is there.”

At night, the website said, “a sickly green light illuminates the 7-foot-tall creature.”

The bronze sculpture was installed in 2007 by Wichita artist Connie Ernbatt at 720 Nims N as part of an effort to revitalize Wichita’s riverside area, the site said.

Here are the other trippiest attractions in Kansas

The other seven trippy Kansas attractions on atlasobscura.com’s list are as follows:

As reported in the Topeka Capital Journal

Finding an Arborist

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Guest Columnist
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Unfortunately, part of growing plants is dealing with damage and death. For trees, this often requires professional help due to the plant size and safety concerns. Extension agents and specialists across the state get many questions each week about whether or not a tree with damage from storms or other stress can be saved. Extension agents can support homeowners by helping to identify problems with trees but when large limbs threaten to drop, especially over structures, parking and areas people are present, it’s time to consult a certified arborist for advice.
Certified arborists are professionally trained and have experience managing trees in the landscape. The continuing education required ensures they are up to date on current techniques, problems and strategies. They also have the insurance necessary to support their decisions.
Whether you are facing tree removal or not, pay attention to your property’s canopy. If you have mature trees, consider adding younger trees to the area. This will take away some of the sting as trees need to be removed allowing the younger trees to take their place. Managing the existing trees properly and choosing the right trees for your landscape are important to protect your investment.
Locate a certified Kansas arborist: Kansas Certified Arborists
Learn more about why hiring an arborist is important: Trees are Good

Unripe remaining tomatoes

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Guest Columnist
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What should I do with the tomatoes that remain on my plants but aren’t ripening?
 
Remaining tomatoes can be left on the vine to ripen as long as there isn’t a frost in the forecast, but ripening is slow at this time of year.
Green tomatoes that are full-sized can be harvested and placed in a paper bag to continue ripening indoors. You may notice a white, star-shape on the bottom of mature green tomatoes. Green tomatoes can also be used for a variety of recipes.
Tomatoes with blemishes or cracks in the skin should be discarded to avoid contaminating others. Store ripe tomatoes on cardboard trays with newspaper between layers if stacked. If possible, keep the temperature close to 55 degrees F. Check periodically for rotting and remove tomatoes as needed.

Pruning Trees and Shrubs

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Guest Columnist
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Woody plants are actively building up their storage of sugars as leaf drop approaches. Pruning in the fall limits the amount stored reducing the amount of energy the plants have available through dormancy. Also, pruning now may encourage woody stems to send out new growth that will be more susceptible to freeze damage during winter.
With the exception of removing dead or diseased branches, it is best to save pruning until after winter. For shrubs that bloom in spring, pruning in the fall can reduce flowering. Spring-flowering shrubs, such as forsythia, lilac, flowering quince, almond, beautybush, deutzia, pyracantha, mock orange, cotoneaster, weigela, viburnum and witch hazel should be pruned after they bloom.
Summer-blooming shrubs, such as hydrangea, rose of Sharon, butterfly bush and crepe myrtle, can be pruned in early spring because the blooms establish on new growth. With a few exceptions, most deciduous trees respond best to late winter/early spring pruning. Proper timing of pruning allows trees to go into dormancy healthy, without increased stress from pruning.
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