MSU: Invasive pest crawling across US  (index.html)  (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/26/msu-invasive-pest-crawling-across-us/?outputType=amp)                               (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon.ico@d=587&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-16x16.png@d=587&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-32x32.png@d=587&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-48x48.png@d=587&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?d=587&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?d=587&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?d=587&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?d=587&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?d=587&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?d=587&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?d=587&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?d=587&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-167x167.png?d=587&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?d=587&mxId=00000000)    (../../../../pf/dist/components/output-types/default.css@d=587&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/dist/components/combinations/default.css@d=587&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/__global/css/style.css@d=587&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/wtva/css/main.css@d=587&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.7.2/css/all.min.css)     (index.html#main) Skip to content (https://www.wtva.com/)        (https://www.wtva.com/)     (https://www.wtva.com/livestream) Watch Live  (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/news) Videos  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us              (https://www.wtva.com/homepage) Homepage   (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live   (https://www.wtva.com/news) News   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/local/) Local   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/mississippi) Mississippi   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/alabama/) Alabama   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/national/) National      (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/alerts) Alerts   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/radar) Radar   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/maproom) Forecast Maps   (https://www.wtva.com/page/list-of-local-storm-shelters/) Storm Shelters   (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content/) Submit Weather Pictures/Videos   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/closings) Closings   (https://weathercallservices.com/wtva-nexgen) WeatherCall   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/cams) Cameras   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/junior-weather-authority) Junior Weather Authority   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/elijah-experiments) Elijah Experiments      (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/high-school/) High School   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/friday-night-fever) Friday Night Fever   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/scoreboard/) Friday Night Fever Scores   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/college) College   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/national) National   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/05/14/wtva-air-several-atlanta-braves-games-throughout-regular-season/) Atlanta Braves on WTVA      (https://www.wtva.com/page/download-our-apps/) Download WTVA Apps   (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts   (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wtva/browse) Obituaries   (https://www.wtva.com/community) Community   (https://www.wtva.com/community/senior-fair) Senior Health Fair   (https://www.wtva.com/community/studio-9) Studio 9 with Tanya Carter   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/06/04/tickets-2026-tupelo-st-jude-dream-home-giveaway-go-sale-june-25/) Tupelo St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway   (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/community/johnny-stars) Johnny D. Talks to the Stars   (https://www.wtva.com/community/made-in-mississippi-americas-music) Mississippi Made: America’s Music   (https://www.wtva.com/community/ask-the-experts) Ask the Experts   (https://www.wtva.com/community/medical-minute) Medical Minute   (https://www.wtva.com/community/legally-speaking) Legally Speaking   (https://www.wtva.com/community/calendar) Community Calendar      (https://www.wtva.com/contests) Contests   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/meet-the-team) Newsroom Bios   (https://www.wtva.com/page/advertise-with-us/) Advertise with WTVA   (https://graymedia.com/careers/#graymap) Job Openings   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-noon-show-studio-9-interview-request/) Schedule Noon/Studio 9 Interview   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-station-tours) Station Tours   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-accepting-news-weather-and-sports-internships) Internships   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us) Station History      (https://www.wtva.com/programming/schedule) Programming Schedule   (https://www.wtva.com/page/nextgen) NextGen TV   (https://www.wtva.com/powernation) Powernation   (https://www.investigatetv.com/) InvestigateTV   (https://www.aginguntold.com/) Aging Untold   (https://www.wtva.com/watching-your-wallet) Watching Your Wallet   (https://www.localnewslive.com/news/national/) Local News Live   (https://graymedia.com/assets/pdf/Gray_AI_Policy.pdf) Gray AI Policy    (https://www.facebook.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.x.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.instagram.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGZ3rWmXAfs4iZi-Hr2Ahgg)   (https://www.tiktok.com/@wtva9news)             MSU: Invasive pest crawling across US   (The Asian longhorned tick is a new invasive species causing concern among animal health...)   The Asian longhorned tick is a new invasive species causing concern among animal health officials because of its ability to reproduce in extremely high numbers in a short amount of time, adapt and spread to new climates and spread disease. (MSU/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)    By (https://www.wtva.com/authors/tristyn-stoop/) Tristyn Stoop    Published: Aug. 25, 2026 at 9:37 PM EDT     Share     (https://google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.wtva.com)  Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google      RAYMOND, Miss. (WTVA) – An invasive pest is crawling its way across the United States. Mississippi State University scientists said on Monday they want state residents to know how to help detect it. It is the Asian longhorned tick, and so far it has been confirmed in Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and more than 20 other states after first being discovered in New Jersey in 2017. They were found infesting a herd of sheep in the Garden State, MSU said.   MSU Extension Service entomologist Santos Portugal said there are no confirmed cases of them in Mississippi, but that doesn’t mean they are not here. They are small and reddish-brown with no white coloration or spots, MSU said. They have short, wide mouthparts and will appear in unusually large numbers clustered on livestock or another animal. MSU said the tick is typically a major pest for livestock. However, they can feed on all types of animals and even people. The tick prefers areas with tall grass and high humidity, but also can be found in shaded lawns in neighborhoods.  They, like other ticks, can transmit diseases to those they feed on.  MSU said this includes anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, theileriosis, and rickettsiosis, in addition to several viruses. If someone wants to submit a tick they believe may be an Asian longhorned tick, they can do so through the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Entomology and Vector Control Program. More details on the process can be found on the Department of Health’s website. To learn more about the Asian longhorned tick, visit the MSU website.  Copyright 2026 WTVA. All rights reserved.            Most Read   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/nigerian-extradited-mississippi-sextortion-death-starkville-teenager/) (Federal law enforcement arrested Adebola Festus Adekunle of Lagos, Nigeria.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/nigerian-extradited-mississippi-sextortion-death-starkville-teenager/)   Nigerian extradited to Mississippi in sextortion death of Starkville teenager       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/winning-lottery-ticket-sold-oktibbeha-county/) (Mississippi Lottery Corporation)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/winning-lottery-ticket-sold-oktibbeha-county/) Winning lottery ticket sold in Oktibbeha County       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/2-children-killed-marshall-co-crash-involving-18-wheeler/) (The crash scene on I-22)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/2-children-killed-marshall-co-crash-involving-18-wheeler/)   2 children killed in Marshall Co. crash involving 18-wheeler       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/corinth-woman-killed-alabama-tuesday/) (An Alabama Law Enforcement agency patrol vehicle)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/corinth-woman-killed-alabama-tuesday/) Corinth woman killed in Alabama on Tuesday       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/city-eyes-historic-home-potential-new-venue/) (An old home could be renamed the Cotton House if the City of Nettleton renovates it.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/city-eyes-historic-home-potential-new-venue/)   City eyes historic home as potential new venue       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/6-students-experience-seizure-like-episodes-same-day-its-not-first-time-it-happened-this-school/) (Colbert County High School)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/6-students-experience-seizure-like-episodes-same-day-its-not-first-time-it-happened-this-school/)   6 students experience seizure-like episodes the same day. It’s not the first time it happened at this school       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/friday-night-fever-scores-highlights-aug-28/) (Tupelo High School vs. Brandon on Aug. 28, 2026)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/friday-night-fever-scores-highlights-aug-28/)   Friday Night Fever scores and highlights from Aug. 28       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/27/recent-arrest-highlights-importance-sros/) (The logo of the Lee County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi on the side of a patrol vehicle.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/27/recent-arrest-highlights-importance-sros/)   Recent arrest highlights importance of SROs         Latest News   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/attala-county-residents-describe-being-stuck-recurring-power-outages-demand-new-infrastructure/) (Attala County residents describe being stuck in recurring power outages, demand new...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/28/attala-county-residents-describe-being-stuck-recurring-power-outages-demand-new-infrastructure/)   Attala County residents describe being stuck in recurring power outages, demand new infrastructure        (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/2-children-killed-marshall-co-crash-involving-18-wheeler/) (The crash scene on I-22)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/2-children-killed-marshall-co-crash-involving-18-wheeler/)   2 children killed in Marshall Co. crash involving 18-wheeler       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/interview-tupelo-police-host-5th-quarter-event-after-friday-night-football-games/) (The Tupelo Police Athletic League's 5th Quarter event is on Aug. 28, 2026.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/interview-tupelo-police-host-5th-quarter-event-after-friday-night-football-games/)   Interview: Tupelo police host ‘5th Quarter’ event after Friday night football games       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/08/29/law-enforcement-visibility-goal-this-football-season/) (Order and safety are the goal of officers who will be protecting athletes and fans this...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/08/29/law-enforcement-visibility-goal-this-football-season/) Law enforcement visibility the goal this football season       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/08/29/suspect-sought-following-shooting-thursday/) (Authorities are searching for a man following a shooting on Thursday.)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/08/29/suspect-sought-following-shooting-thursday/) Suspect sought following shooting on Thursday       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/08/29/nigerian-extradited-mississippi-sextortion-death-starkville-teenager/) (Federal law enforcement extradited a Nigerian to Mississippi to face federal charges in the...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/08/29/nigerian-extradited-mississippi-sextortion-death-starkville-teenager/) Nigerian extradited to Mississippi in sextortion death of Starkville teenager       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/emmett-till-family-marks-71-years-since-his-death/) (Emmett Till family marks 71 years since his death)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/emmett-till-family-marks-71-years-since-his-death/)   Emmett Till family marks 71 years since his death       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/mema-seeks-input-northeast-mississippians/) (May 6-7 severe weather)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/08/29/mema-seeks-input-northeast-mississippians/) MEMA seeks input from northeast Mississippians                    (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us) Station History  (https://www.wtva.com/programming/schedule) Programming Schedule  (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts  (https://www.wtva.com/news/national) National  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/meet-the-team) Newsroom Bios  (https://www.wtva.com/news/aging-untold) Aging Untold  (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content) User Content  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us  (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live  (https://graymedia.com/careers/#graymap) Careers  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/page/advertise-with-us/) Advertise With Us  (https://www.wtva.com/contests) Contests    WTVA 1359 Beech Springs Rd. Saltillo, MS 38866 (662) 842-7620        (https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/tv-profile/WTVA?id=74148) Public Inspection File  (https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/44b0393b-6e1d-d077-2286-c4dce8204a03/e419083c-81a2-421f-8307-ef9e06a9d5cf.pdf) EEO Report  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gdm/fcc/wtva-fcc_applications.pdf) FCC Applications  (https://www.wtva.com/page/closed-captioning/) Closed Captioning/Audio Description  (https://www.wtva.com/terms-of-service/) Terms of Service  (https://www.wtva.com/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy  (mailto:traffic@wtva.com) Traffic Contact Email  (tel:662-842-7620) 662-842-7620  (https://www.wtva.com/advertising) Advertising    (https://gray.tv/uploads/documents/Gray-AI-Policy.pdf) Click here to learn more about our approach to artificial intelligence.  A Gray Local Media Station © 2002-2026