The presence of ticks in residential areas in Indiana is on the rise, according to research led by an assistant professor at Indiana University’s School of Public Health.
Karo Omodior, who is leading the multi-year investigation, explained that of more than 300 properties sampled in south and central Indiana, 40% contained at least one tick, while about 20% showed signs of established tick populations.
“If you go hiking, most people are informed about the precautions against ticks to take,” Omodior said. “In the yard, the most comfortable place, a lot of people don’t think about the precautions.”
Omodior’s research has found a total of four different tick species located in south and central Indiana. The deer tick, dog tick and Lone Star tick were found within the first year of the study. By the second year, a fourth tick, the Shemophyselias, was found.
“What this tells us is that the first three ticks are known to be present in different parts of Indiana. The fourth one says that new ticks are coming and the potential for new tick-borne diseases comes aboard,” Omodior explained.
The importance of this study to Hoosiers is knowing that tick populations are being established in residential areas.
