Popular Shrub Linked to Rising Rates of Lyme Disease in Ticks
[CanLyme note: Japanese barberry, an invasive plant, has been promoted as a decorative shrub for landscaping across Canada for many years, even in the dry Okanagan Valley region of BC In Canada, plant growers, retailers, and landscapers need to take this seriously and stop selling this product and similar products. Offer your concerns to the Canadian Landscape Nursery Association. This is not new news as this shrub has been known for over a decade to support the survival of ticks.]
Sept 26, 2017 By Shyang Puri
“Reducing this shrub can reduce cases of Lyme disease in infested areas up to 60%”
A state scientist says a popular shrub sold at some nurseries and big box stores across Connecticut is being blamed for a rise in the tick population, which is causing an increase in Lyme disease cases in the state.
State scientists reported the rate of Lyme Disease infection in ticks tested so far this year is up by 40 percent compared to 2016. They also allege that the increase is related to the popular landscaping shrub Japanese barberry, also known as Berberis thunbergii.
This article is somewhat misleading. It’s not the shrub per se but the fact that wild mice that carry ticks use it to find shelter.