Hundreds of ticks cross Lance Jones’ desk each year, each one a small but important piece of Illinois’ public health puzzle.
In this behind-the-scenes feature, Lance shares how detailed morphological work, DNA barcoding, and field surveillance come together to identify ticks submitted from across Illinois. With more than 1,000 ticks sent in by the public in 2025 alone, accurate identification is essential to understanding which pathogens may be present, including those responsible for Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
From permethrin-treated field gear to the careful positioning of specimens under a stereomicroscope, Lance’s work helps build a clearer picture of tick distribution and disease risk in our state.
Read the full story to learn how Lance’s research supports public health across Illinois.
Photo by Fred Zwicky.