The invasive Asian longhorned tick has been spotted in a new part of the U.S. Here's what to know.

An invasive species of tick that has been reported in more than 20 states has been spotted in Maine for the first time, according to officials.

The Asian longhorned tick was first identified in the U.S. in New Jersey eight years ago. The spotting in Maine marks the farthest northeast the tick species has been seen in the country, experts say.

"This discovery underscores the critical importance of continued tick surveillance in Maine," Griffin Dill, director of the UMaine Extension Tick Lab, a tick surveillance program, said in a news release last month. "While this appears to be an isolated case, we are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with state and federal partners."

Dill noted that early detection "is essential to understanding and mitigating the potential risks as