As if the already existing pesky little bugs weren't enough, a new species of tick has arrived in New England.
After invading New York and New Jersey, the Asian longhorned tick has been found in Connecticut and New Hampshire.
According to reports, the New York metro area seems to be pretty solidly infested with them now.
The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture confirmed the discovery on Monday after it was found on a dog.
Boston 25 News first reported on this tick back in August, when it was first discovered in New Jersey on sheep. Back then the longhorned tick had been found in seven states - today, it's spread to 10.
Dr. Mathers thinks the tick caught a ride on a dog while a New York family was likely leaf peeping in the state.
"The dog was coming from the New York area where the tick was found which is pretty much along the 95 corridor," said Dr. Mathers.
The biggest concern, however, is in how the tick reproduces. The female does not need a male to spread thousands of tiny critters.
"You don’t need a male, the female can just be dropped off some place," said Dr. Mathers. "It just needs a blood meal and it’s ready to lay fertile eggs."
Thousands of eggs is all you need to establish a new population.
"Right now it’s not the biggest tick on the horizon but it could become a significant problem," said Dr. Mathers.
While in Asia these ticks do spread disease, none of the ones found in the U.S. have carried any infectious disease thus far.
"There’s still a question if it’s gonna be a nuisance or a disease threat," said Dr. Mathers. "That’s still something moving out there and for us to figure out."