Tick Submission

Kentucky Tick Submissions for Identification

This is for identification of ticks collected in Kentucky. Identification is provided through the University of Kentucky Extension BITE Lab in the Entomology Department. This information is provided free to Kentuckians and is used to help improve surveillance and develop Extension educational resources on ticks and tick-bite prevention in Kentucky.

These programs are NOT diagnostic services. If you are concerned about your or your animals' health, please talk with your physician or veterinarian.

Tick Submission Process:

1. Fill out this form: https://tinyurl.com/KY-tick-ID

**Ticks cannot be properly processed without information on where they came from and who to contact with your identification results!

2. Place the tick in a sealed small bottle or vial (like a pill bottle with identifying information removed).

3. Either freeze for at least 24 hours OR add small amount of ethanol/isopropyl alcohol (available at pharmacies and grocery stores) to container and after at least 1 hour, pour off all excess liquid or move to clean container.

**Alcohol cannot be mailed, it's important to pour out excess**

Do not mail live ticks!

4. Put container with ticks in envelope or small box and mail to this address:

Tiffin BITE Lab

1100 S Limestone

S-225 Ag Science Center N

Lexington, KY 40546

Thank you for improving Kentucky's tick surveillance and educational programs!

If you want your ticks tested for human pathogens that cause Ehrlichiosis, Lyme Disease, or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in people - you can submit ticks through the UK Human Health Tick Surveillance Project.

These programs are NOT diagnostic services. If you are concerned about your or your animals' health, please talk with your physician or veterinarian.

Tick Bite Prevention

Asian longhorned tick

Entomology Fact Sheets - ENTFacts

Ticks and Disease in Kentucky by Anna Pasturnak, Jonathan Larson, and Monica Cipriani

Lone Star Tick in Kentucky by Lee Townsend

Video Resources

Reducing risk from tick and mosquito bites while outdoors - From the Woods Today Ep. 262 (Hannah Tiffin)

Control tips for ticks and mosquitoes - From the Woods Today Ep. 214 (Hannah Tiffin)

Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) Resources

Living with Alpha-gal Syndrome State-Wide Webinar - UK FCS and Entomology Extension

Fact Sheets

Food Allergens: Alpha-gal by Heather Norman-Burgdolf and Anna Cason, Dietetics and Human Nutrition

Life with Alpha-gal - Red Meat Allergy ENTFact-656 by Heather Norman-Burgdolf and Jonathan Larson

Ticks & Livestock

Asian longhorned tick, Warren County Farm and Home Show. Apr 2025.

Prevent Asian longhorned tick in cattle, Warren County Farm and Home Show. Apr 2025.

College Resources

Contact Information

Search the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment