Eleven blacklegged tick samples have been submitted to the ISU medical entomology laboratory from counties around the state. October through November represent the second seasonal peak of adult blacklegged ticks in Iowa, and they are very abundant right now. The pie charts on the map above indicate the proportion of the three major tick species sent in from each county. Red denotes the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), yellow-the dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and blue-the lonestar tick (Amblyomma americanum). The total number of ticks submitted from each county is indicated by the size of the pie chart. Black-legged ticks that are submitted are tested for the presence of the bacterium that causes Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). B. burgdorferi positive samples have been identified in 0 counties (shown in grey) thus far in 2008. Many thanks are due to those of you who have contributed specimens. This very important project is supported by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Tick testing takes place in the University Hygienic Lab (Iowa City, IA). For more information about ticks in Iowa, please see the "Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases in Iowa" pamphlet recently published through University Extension. More information about submitting ticks to this project can be found through this LINK.