Rare striped-legged tick identified on child in Oslo, first record in Norway

In autumn 2025 a child in central Oslo was found with an unusually large tick, prompting the father to submit the specimen to the national tick centre. Genetic testing, conducted with the University of Agder, identified the arthropod as Hyalomma excavatum, a species previously unrecorded in Norway. The tick is three times the size of the native forest tick, has a dark dorsal shield and distinctive striped legs, and typically parasitises larger mammals while also capable of biting people.

Researchers caution that a single specimen does not indicate an established population, noting that Hyalomma species can be transported by migratory birds but struggle to reproduce in Norway’s cooler climate. The finding coincides with increasing reports of tick-borne diseases, including higher numbers of Lyme disease cases and ongoing monitoring of tick-borne encephalitis by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, which expects a continued upward trend. Experts call for expanded research and resources to address the growing public-health risk.