An invasive Asian longhorned tick’s presence in Maine has been confirmed by the University of Maine and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

It is the first time the species has been officially found in the state, the entities said in a joint news release Tuesday.

“This discovery underscores the critical importance of continued tick surveillance in Maine,” said Griffin Dill, director of the UMaine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab, which identified the species. “While this appears to be an isolated case, we are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with state and federal partners. Early detection is essential to understanding and mitigating the potential risks associated with this species.”

The specimen was collected in Cumberland County and submitted for identification and pathogen testing, the news release says.

Asian longhorned ticks feed on a number of hosts, from livestock and pets to wildlife and people, and have been shown to transmit a cattle pathogen that can cause illness.

The species is native to East Asia and was first confirmed in the United States in 2017 in New Jersey. It has since spread to 20 states, the news release says.

Unlike most ticks, female members of the species can reproduce without mating, which means infestations can come from a single tick. The tick found in Maine was too young to reproduce, the news release says.

UMaine, the agriculture department and the MaineHealth Institute of Research are working to monitor the species and understand its potential spread.

The university, the department and the Maine CDC recommend that veterinarians advise animal owners regarding potential treatments for livestock and pets. People should conduct checks on themselves and their animals for ticks often and thoroughly, and property owners should keep their yards and pastures brush-free and create mulch or gravel borders to reduce tick habitat.

Dr. Rachael Fiske, the assistant state veterinarian, said Mainers should report any unusual-looking ticks or suspected infestations to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

“In this and every instance,” Fiske said, “early detection is key to protecting Maine’s livestock, pets, wildlife and public health.”