Experts warn of dangers posed by deer tick, spotted lanternfly

Clarion County residents learned about one present threat and one impending threat.

The present threat comes from the blacklegged tick, which is more commonly known as the deer tick.

Scott Weikert, of the Penn State Extension Service, said during a recent seminar at Trinity Point Church of God, near Clarion, even that name is not accurate. Weikert said the tick attaches itself to small animals and birds and then transfers to larger mammals as it matures.

The major threat caused by the deer tick is Lyme disease, the bacterial infection most people get from the bite of a deer tick. If left untreated, the disease can cause serious physical and neurological problems that become hard to manage.

Lyme disease can infect several different parts of the body, making diagnosis difficult. Symptoms often vary, and Lyme disease can also affect pets.

The deer tick is very small, about the size of a pinhead. The size makes it easy to avoid detection.

Weikert said if the tick is detected within 24 hours, it probably will not have an opportunity to inject the Lyme causing agent into the body.

According to Weikert, Pennsylvania is now the leading state for Lyme disease. Before 2016, he said, there were 5,000 reported cases in the state. That statistic doubled the following year.

Weikert said the problem with Lyme disease is it is often misdiagnosed because it manifests itself in various ways, including headaches, fatigue, fever and joint pain.

He noted many of these symptoms are common in other medical problems. The most common sign of a problem is the bull’s-eye mark that forms around the tick bite.

Weikert said ways to limit exposure to ticks include staying out of brushy areas; wearing protective, light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirt and pants; and tucking pants into socks. He also suggested using tick repellent.

He said after being in the woods, one should always check for ticks on the arms, legs, face, hair, groin and behind the knees and under the arms.

He said the best way to remove a tick is to use a fine pair of tweezers and to pull it out by the head. He said not to pull a tick out by the body because that could cause the tick to regurgitate into the wound.

Weikert also warned the audience about the lone star tick, which can cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever. He said this tick is found mostly in southern Pennsylvania. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is recognized by a reddish-purple rash. He said the disease can lead to problems with the nervous system and possibly death.

State Rep. Donna Oberlander, R-63rd District, who hosted the event, said she had her dog vaccinated for Lyme disease and wondered why no similar vaccine was available for humans. Weikert said he knew research was ongoing, but was not aware of the progress of that research.

Heather Leech, an etymologist with Penn State, warned of an impending problem – the spotted lanternfly. It is an inch-long, black, red and white spotted pest native to China, India, Japan and Vietnam.

Sightings of the invasive insect began in Berks County in 2014. It has since spread throughout 13 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, which the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has designated as a spotted lanternfly quarantine zone.

Leech said the study of the spotted lanternfly is new, and she is learning more about it every day.

She said the plant hopper can lay its egg masses on any hard surface, but the tree of heaven seems to be its favorite. That tree can be found mainly in the southeastern part of the state, but is also found in many other areas.

Leech said damage is caused when the eggs hatch and begin to ingest the sap of the host. That can lead to substantial damage. A favorite of the spotted lanternfly are grape vines, and severe damage has been caused to vineyards.

The good news is that Penn State University and Extension, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture have joined forces to control and contain the spread of the pest.

PSU is leading research efforts currently underway to answer many questions about the insect’s biology, pesticide studies and the ability of the insect to adapt to the environment in Pennsylvania.

Leech said the USDA and PDA are actively treating locations where the spotted lanternfly has been reported.

USDA is treating on the outer edges where the populations are small and will begin to move inward toward the center of the quarantine.

PDA is treating areas where the population numbers are high and is targeting high-risk pathways, which may contribute to moving the insect to other locations.

PDA is also surveying all counties in the state outside the quarantine looking for the insect.

Leech said spraying is effective, and that research is continuing on other insects found in China that are natural predators of the spotted lanternfly.

She urged anyone doing business or even visiting the quarantine zone to check for the insect. Anyone doing business in the zone is required to get a spotted lanternfly permit.

Leech said if a spotted lanternfly is detected to call (888) 422-3359.