As of March 2021, which state had Haemaphysalis longicornis identified in nature or on animals?

• A. New Jersey
• B. New York
• C. Georgia
• D. Florida

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing where this invasive tick was first detected in the United States. Haemaphysalis longicornis, the Asian longhorned tick, was identified in nature in the U.S. for the first time in New Jersey in 2017, found on cattle. That initial detection established New Jersey as the state with an confirmed presence in nature or on animals as of March 2021. The tick can reproduce without males, which can allow rapid population growth and spread, so early detection is important for livestock health surveillance. While other states eventually reported detections as well, the earliest documented case occurred in New Jersey.