University of Turku’s Tick Bank campaign reveals shifts in tick populations and rare species in Finland
The University of Turku’s Tick Bank collection campaign, launched at the start of 2024, has gathered significant data on tick populations in Finland, offering early insights into potential changes in their distribution. MTV Uutiset reports that the initiative has proven successful, with researchers noting a strengthening of taiga tick populations in many areas. However, more samples are still needed, particularly of rarer species that may appear later in the summer, as the campaign continues until the end of the year.
Researchers are now urging the public to report sightings of two particularly concerning tick species: Hyalomma and Dermacentor reticulatus. According to Ilta-Sanomat, the University of Turku has highlighted the rapid northward spread of Dermacentor reticulatus in the Baltics, while Hyalomma ticks, which can transmit diseases such as the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, are of special interest. Jani Sormunen, the project leader and docent of medical entomology, explains that young Hyalomma ticks arrive in Finland annually via migratory birds but only mature into blood-seeking adults during warm summers.
The first adult Hyalomma tick was recorded in Finland in the summer of 2024, and researchers warn that these ticks may become active in August and September if temperatures remain high. Ilta-Sanomat notes that Hyalomma ticks are large, fast-moving, and often found on horses, identifiable by their distinctive striped legs. Meanwhile, Dermacentor reticulatus ticks can be recognized by their mottled scutum.
By mid-August, the Tick Bank had already received 20,000 tick observations, revealing that taiga ticks spread aggressively in early summer before declining after midsummer. The peak occurrence of ticks typically shifts to August and September. The public is encouraged to submit tick samples for research following the instructions on the punkkipankki.fi website.
