Resistance in cattle to Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis

Samples of each instar of the 3-host tick, Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis were collected from grazing Bos taurus cattle to investigate their survival on hosts with previous exposure to the tick and on previously unexposed ‘naive’ hosts. The ticks were allocated to categories based on their size to observe at what stage of development mortality occurred. Analysis of the age structure of the ticks showed that small but variable proportions of larvae, nymphs and females matured on previously exposed hosts and larger proportions on the naive hosts. This suggests that cattle acquire and express different levels of resistance against each instar of the tick. The technique used has potential for estimating levels of resistance of hosts to 3-host ticks under field conditions.     

Seasonal patterns of abundance and host relationships of the Australian paralysis tick,Ixodes holocyclus Neumann (Acarina: Ixodidae), in southeastern Queensland

Estimates of seasonal abundance of larvae, nymphs and females of the paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, were obtained by collecting ticks that engorged on small mammals and birds trapped in two localities in southeastern Queensland: Brisbane (wet sclerophyll forest) and Tamborine Mountain (cleared rain forest). The long-tailed short-nosed bandicoot, Isoodon macrourus, was the most common mammal trapped but small numbers of other marsupials, rodents and ground frequenting birds were also captured. Small numbers of five other tick species were also collected. In both habitats there was clearly one dominant generation of I. holocyclus;7er year, although the presence of all stages at most times of the year indicated overlapping of smaller cohorts. Females were most abundant in spring and early summer, larvae in summer-autumn, and nymphs in autumn-winter. I. holocyclus was abundant on I. macrourus and rare on most other mammals and birds captured. At the peak of abundance of each instar, each bandicoot dropped from 500 to 2000 engorged larvae, 100 to 200 engorged nymphs, and four to six engorged females. Life tables were compiled for the tick in both habitats and these indicate that there was relatively high survival from engorged larva to engorged nymph and thence to engorged female and that most mortality occurred between detaching of the engorged female and the detaching of the engorged larva. The tick was more abundant on bandicoots from cleared rain forest and rain forest edge, than on those from sclerophyll woodland. The survival of engorged larvae and nymphs of I. holocyclus and the larval productivity of engorged females were examined in a warm moist climate where the tick was abundant (Tamborine Mountain) and in a hotter dryer climate where the tick was rare or absent (Amberley). In both localities engorged larvae and nymphs survived to the next instar in all seasons of the year. On most occasions engorged females produced eggs which hatched. Mature bandicoots from tick infested areas showed little or no resistance to infestation with larvae or nymphs of I. holocyclus, whereas other small mammals from the same area showed an appreciable degree of resistance to the immature stages of the tick. Feeding larvae and nymphs exposed to normal light-dark cycles in the laboratory detached during the afternoon and early evening. This behaviour and host resistance are discussed in relation to the daily activity cycles of host species, their habitat preferences, and their role as hosts for I. holocyclus.     

Attachment site selection of ticks on roe deer, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capreolus capreolus</Emphasis>

The spatio-temporal attachment site patterns of ticks feeding on their hosts can be of significance if co-feeding transmission (i.e. from tick to tick without a systemic infection of the host) of pathogens affects the persistence of a given disease. Using tick infestation data on roe deer, we analysed preferred attachment sites and niche width of Ixodes ticks (larvae, nymphs, males, females) and investigated the degree of inter- and intrastadial aggregation. The different development stages showed rather consistent attachment site patterns and relative narrow feeding site niches. Larvae were mostly found on the head and on the front legs of roe deer, nymphs reached highest densities on the head and highest adult densities were found on the neck of roe deer. The tick stages feeding (larvae, nymphs, females) on roe deer showed high degrees of intrastadial spatial aggregation, whereas males did not. Male ticks showed large feeding site overlap with female ticks. Feeding site overlap between larval-female and larval-nymphal ticks did occur especially during the months May–August on the head and front legs of roe deer and might allow pathogen transmission via co-feeding. Tick density, niche width and niche overlap on roe deer are mainly affected by seasonality, reflecting seasonal activity and abundance patterns of ticks. Since different tick development stages occur spatially and temporally clustered on roe deer, transmission experiments of tick-borne pathogens are urgently needed.     

Growth of Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis on cattle.

Increases were recorded of lengths of larvae, nymphs and females of the tick, Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis during feeding on cattle, so that categories could be established for estimating the ages of ticks in natural populations. Most larvae and nymphs engorged in 4 days and females in 5 or 6 days. Four age categories were defined for larvae and 3 for nymphs. The growth of females was variable but 4 stages of physiological development were defined based on changes in their lengths. The lengths were determined of each instar 24 h before detachment to enable estimation of the numbers maturing each day on cattle in the field.     

Offspring quality and tick infestation load in brood rearing great tits Parus major

Although the impact of nest-dwelling ectoparasites on nestlings in altricial birds is relatively well documented, little information is available on the fitness consequences of bird–ectoparasite systems with limited ectoparasite transmission between parents and their offspring. In this particular context we tested the hypothesis that parental infestation by a haematophageous field ectoparasite, the sheep tick Ixodes ricinus , in a hole-breeding passerine bird, the great tit Parus major , ultimately leads to the reduction of nestling quality. Observational data of a long-term study show that 15 days after hatching, nestlings' body condition (body mass corrected for body size) was negatively associated with the tick load of the mother, while no association was found with tick load of the father. A field experiment was conducted to test if adult infestation by ticks leads to a reduction in offspring quality. The field experiment consisted of a two by two factorial design: neither, one or both parents were infested with a high tick load (12 nymphs) when nestlings were eight days old. Four days after manipulation of the parents, the effect of the treatment on nestlings' health was assessed by measuring haematological and biochemical parameters. Body condition of nestlings was monitored from three days after hatching, until seven days after tick manipulation of the parents. Although parental tick manipulation resulted in successful tick feeding, nestlings' health parameters were not affected. We therefore suggest that the negative association between nestling condition and parental tick load does not reflect a causal effect of parasites, but either reflects a common environmental factor affecting parental infestation levels and offspring condition, or reflects parental quality. We propose different explanations why this association is expressed in female parents only.     

The effect of prey size and prey density on the functional response,survival, growth and development of a predatory pentatomid bug,Podisus maculiventris say

Two experiments on the nymphal predation of Podisus maculiventris were conducted using Spodoptera litura larvae as prey. First experiment: The predator nymphs divided into three groups were reared individually from second instar to adult in a small vessel. Each nymph in the groups 1, 2 and 3 was allowed to attack the serially growing larvae (these were supplied at the rate of one per day) from 3-, 5- and 7-day old after hatching, respectively. The first prey used for the group 1 was so small that it was not only insufficient to satiate the predator but also was difficult to be searched out. But these disadvantages were soon recuperated due to the rapid growth of the prey and all nymphs could survive to adults. The survival rate of third and fourth instar nymphs in the group 3 was severely affected by vigorous counterattack of older prey larvae. Second experiment: The predator nymphs were individually reared either in a small vessel or in a large one at various rates of food supply (the prey larvae of 7-day old were used). The functional response curves obtained for each instar of the predator took a saturation type within a certain range of the prey density. The saturation level specific to each instar was generally higher for the predator reared in the large vessel than in the small one. The functional response of fourth and fifth instar nymphs was accelerated at a high prey density, viz. 16 larvae per vessel. Even at the low rate of food supply, viz. one larva per day per predator, the predator nymphs could survive to adults, but the size of resultant adults were abnormally small.     

Interstadial variation in the attachment sites of Ixodes ricinus ticks on sheep

The spatial aggregation of ticks feeding on vertebrate hosts has been recognized for some time but, for hosts supporting more than one stage of the tick, observations of interstadial variation in the site of attachment have not previously been quantified. This study showed that all three parasitic stages of Ixodes ricinus ticks feeding on sheep attach most commonly to the hair-covered areas of the head and limbs while few ticks attach to the fleeced region of the body. However, significant differences were observed in the site of attachment of the three feeding stages of the tick. Larvae attached to distal limbs and rostral areas of the head and adult females attached to the proximal areas of the limbs and around the neck and ears, while nymphs attached in locations between the larvae and adults. The importance of the spatial aggregation of the ticks and interstadial variation in their distribution on the host, for the transmission of tick-borne pathogens and the epidemiology of the diseases they cause, is discussed. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Developmental changes in salivary glands of nymphs and adults of the spinose ear tick Otobius megnini

Otobius megnini has an autogenous 1 host life cycle, where larvae and nymphs stay attached inside the ear canal for long periods, but the adult tick is free living and can lay several egg batches without feeding. In order to obtain information about anatomical structures involved in this particular life cycle, nymphs and adults of O. megnini were dissected and salivary gland images were obtained in situ with the use of scanning electronic microscopy. Measurements of salivary alveoli were obtained with the use of ImageJ 1.40 g software. In the nymphs, the Type I alveoli are relatively small (mean diameter: 19.6 μm) compared with those of the adults (mean: 43.4 μm) and other soft ticks in the literature. Type II alveoli in nymphs are similar (mean: 82.6 μm) to previously described alveoli in adult soft ticks. In contrast, the adults of O. megnini Type II alveoli are smaller (mean: 36.8 μm) and have a wrinkled surface. These findings provide more evidence that Type I alveoli take part in absorption of moisture during the free-living tick stages.     

Development, survival, fecundity and behaviour of Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis (Ixodidae) at two locations in southeast Queensland.

The free-living stages of the tick Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis were studied at Mt Tamborine (526 m altitude) and Amberley (25 m altitude) in southeast Queensland between 1971 and 1980. Data are presented on the number of eggs and larvae produced, the moulting success of engorged larvae and nymphs and the survival and behaviour of unfed larvae, nymphs and adult females. Temperature, moisture, daylength, grass length and age of unfed ticks were investigated as sources of variation in development rates, fecundity or survival. At Mt Tamborine the life cycle was well synchronized with the seasons to produce one generation per year. At Amberley higher temperatures accelerated development rates and would have delayed diapause, so disrupting the life cycle.     

Blood feeding of Ornithodoros turicata larvae using an artificial membrane system

An artificial membrane system was adapted to feed Ornithodoros turicata (Ixodida: Argasidae) larvae from a laboratory colony using defibrinated swine blood. Aspects related to larval feeding and moulting to the first nymphal instar were evaluated. A total of 55.6% of all larvae exposed to the artificial membrane in two experimental groups fed to repletion and 98.0% of all fed larvae moulted. Mortality rates of first instar nymphs differed significantly depending on the sorting tools used to handle engorged larvae (χ² = 35.578, P < 0.0001): engorged larvae handled with featherweight forceps showed significantly higher mortality (odds ratio = 4.441) than those handled with a camel‐hair brush. Differences in the physical properties of the forceps and camel‐hair brush may affect the viability of fragile soft tick larvae even when care and the same technique are used to sort them during experimental manipulations. The current results represent those of the first study to quantify successful feeding to repletion, moulting and post‐moulting mortality rates in O. turicata larvae using an artificial membrane feeding system. Applications of the artificial membrane feeding system to fill gaps in current knowledge of soft tick biology and the study of soft tick–pathogen interactions are discussed.     

Accelerated phenology of blacklegged ticks under climate warming

The phenology of tick emergence has important implications for the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. A long lag between the emergence of tick nymphs in spring and larvae in summer should increase transmission of persistent pathogens by allowing infected nymphs to inoculate the population of naive hosts that can subsequently transmit the pathogen to larvae to complete the transmission cycle. In contrast, greater synchrony between nymphs and larvae should facilitate transmission of pathogens that do not produce long-lasting infections in hosts. Here, we use 19 years of data on blacklegged ticks attached to small-mammal hosts to quantify the relationship between climate warming and tick phenology. Warmer years through May and August were associated with a nearly three-week advance in the phenology of nymphal and larval ticks relative to colder years, with little evidence of increased synchrony. Warmer Octobers were associated with fewer larvae feeding concurrently with nymphs during the following spring. Projected warming by the 2050s is expected to advance the timing of average nymph and larva activity by 8–11 and 10–14 days, respectively. If these trends continue, climate warming should maintain or increase transmission of persistent pathogens, while it might inhibit pathogens that do not produce long-lasting infections.     

不同虫态叉角厉蝽对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的室内捕食作用

为了明确叉角厉蝽 Eocanthecona furcellate (Wolff)对草地贪夜蛾 Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E.Smith)幼虫的控制作用,在实验室条件下测定了叉角厉蝽不同虫态对草地贪夜蛾不同龄期幼虫的捕食能力,研究了该蝽捕食功能反应、搜寻效应以及种内干扰作用。结果表明,叉角厉蝽3龄若虫、5龄若虫、成虫均可捕食草地贪夜蛾幼虫,总体呈现叉角厉蝽低龄若虫捕食草地贪夜蛾低龄幼虫的数量较多,高龄若虫和成虫捕食中间龄期幼虫数量较多的规律;叉角厉蝽3个虫态对草地贪夜蛾2~3龄幼虫的捕食功能反应均符合Holling II方程和HollingⅢ型功能反应新模型;5龄若虫对草地贪夜蛾2~3龄幼虫的捕食效能(a/Th)最强（214.0）、日最大捕食量(1/Th)最大（256.4头）。不同虫态叉角厉蝽的搜寻效应与草地贪夜蛾密度均呈负相关。建立了叉角厉蝽成虫密度、草地贪夜蛾4龄幼虫密度对捕食作用的干扰反应方程,干扰作用发生后该蝽的平均捕食量和捕食作用率均逐渐下降。本研究结果可为田间释放叉角厉蝽防治草地贪夜蛾提供依据。     

Life cycle and seasonal development of post-embryonic Argas reflexus (Acari: Argasidae) at two thermally different locations in Central Europe

Seasonal development was investigated in the pigeon tick, Argas reflexus (F.) over a 5-year period. The ticks were kept in desiccators at two deposition sites with different temperature conditions: a warmer attic and a cooler outdoor aviary. The life cycle of A. reflexus consists of the egg, larva, a variable number of two to four nymphal instars and the adult stage. In the cooler aviary, the ticks passed, on average, fewer nymphal instars than in the attic. At both locations, ecdysis of the nymphs and adults occurred only during the summer months, with peak numbers of ticks finishing the moult in August. This consistent pattern was evident irrespective of the feeding date of the preceding developmental stage or the year of observation. The results strongly suggest that nymphs II, nymphs I and larvae fed later than in mid-July, August or September, respectively, entered a state of diapause and, thus, overwintered in the engorged state. Argas reflexus nymphs II from a laboratory stock that were deposited inside the attic showed a remarkably different seasonal pattern of development, even more than 1 year after their deposition. This suggests that a circannual rhythm may be involved in the ticks' seasonal timing. Mortality of the engorged ticks (from repletion to ecdysis of the following stage/instar) was below 1.5% in most cases, irrespective of the season and the location. Unfed larvae survived for a maximum of one year inside the attic, whereas the median survival period of unfed nymphs was at least 3 years at the same location. Based on the present results, the generation time from (F1) egg deposition to oviposition in the F2 generation might be 3-11 years in Central European A. reflexus, depending on the course of development (two or three nymphal instars) and the number of gonotrophic cycles (probably up to six) of the F1. The life span of a single tick might take approximately 7-11 years or even longer.     

Duration of attachment by mites and ticks on the iguanid lizards Sceloporus graciosus and Uta stansburiana.

Duration of attachment was determined for the mites Neotrombicula californica and Geckobiella texana and the tick Ixodes pacificus on the iguanid lizards Sceloporus graciosus and Uta stansburiana from southern California. Neotrombicula californica infestations lasted approximately 1 wk. Attachment of Ixodes pacificus larvae and nymphs lasted approximately 8 days on S. graciosus and 16 days on U. stansburiana. Geckobiella texana remained attached to S. graciosus for 5 days and to U. stansburiana for 28 days.     

Tick infestation on birds in an urban Atlantic Forest fragment in north-eastern Brazil

Birds are important hosts for various tick species, playing a significant role in their biological life cycle and dispersion. In this study, we investigated tick infestations on birds trapped in an urban remnant of Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco state, Brazil. From February 2015 to March 2017, 541 birds belonging to 52 species were trapped with mist nets and examined for ectoparasites. Birds trapped in the late successional forest were significantly more infested than birds trapped in the early successional forest. In the same way, ectoparasite infestation varied significantly according to bird weight and collection plot. Overall, 198 birds (36.6%) belonging to 27 species were parasitized by ectoparasites (i.e., ticks, lice and/or mites). Ectoparasites were effectively collected from 111 birds, of which 99 belonging to 20 species were infested by ticks (n?=?261), namely, Amblyomma longirostre (13 nymphs), Amblyomma nodosum (21 nymphs), Amblyomma varium (one nymph), and Amblyomma spp. (five nymphs and 221 larvae). Most of the ticks (>?90%) were collected from Passeriformes. This study provides the second record of A. varium in Pernambuco state and confirms that birds, especially Passeriformes, are important hosts for larvae and nymphs of Amblyomma spp. in the Atlantic Forest biome of Pernambuco.

     

Experimental evaluation of birds as disseminators of the cosmopolitan tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Rhipicephalus sanguineus is believed to be the most widespread tick species of the world and its dissemination seems to rely on the diffusion of its main host, the dog. Empirical observations indicate that several bird species in urban areas regularly steal dog food. Such circumstances create a chance for R. sanguineus ticks to climb on birds and carry ticks to another site. In this work we evaluated experimentally the likelihood of birds (chicks) to either feed and/or carry R. sanguineus ticks from an infested site to another and to infest a host (rabbit) in the new location. Chicks were not suitable hosts for R. sanguineus ticks. Not a single adult tick engorged on chicks, yield as well as weight of engorged larvae and nymphs were very low and feeding period of these ticks was very long. However, a few larvae and, chiefly, nymphs were delivered to a new location either mechanically or after attachment and engorging total or partially on chicks. A few of these ticks fed successfully on rabbits. Further evidence on the capacity of birds to introduce R. sanguineus into non-infested dog settings should be provided by systematic examination of birds from urban areas, close to tick infested households.     

Attraction of immature stages of the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) to 2,6-dichlorophenol

To determine whether 2,6-dichlorophenol is solely a sex pheromone, the response to it by the various stages of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, were compared. In contrast to adults, 2,6-dichlorophenol was attractive to unfed nymphs and to unfed larvae. Use of this chemical also prompted the expression of a novel type of feeding posture behavior in adults. The overlap in attraction to other substituted phenols plus the lack of functional value of this response for larvae and nymphs rules out the possibility that 2,6-dichlorophenol is a general attractant. However, 2,6-dichlorophenol likely plays a dual role as an attachment stimulant in the adult tick.Undergraduate Research Program in Biology     

The lizards Lacerta agilis and L. vivipara as hosts to larvae and nymphs of the tick Ixodes ricinus

In this paper we provide quantitative information on the occurrence of larvae and nymphs of the tick Ixodes ricinus in populations of the lizards Lacerta agilis and L. vivipara . Levels of infestation were rather low, at least when compared with those of small mammals and sheep. Hence we suppose that lizards feed only a minor fraction of the total tick population.
Differences in tick loads among lizard subpopulations are probably attributable to difference in body size and mobility among the host groups.
Ticks exhibit a markedly clumped distribution on the lizards. This distribution pattern fits with the negative binomial distribution. The overdispersed distribution of tick larvae in the field and aspects of the lizards' behaviour are considered as factors which contribute to the observed infestation patterns.
Tick larvae were active throughout summer, with peak levels occurring during June-July. Nymphs were most numerous during May-June but almost absent during the summer months. Almost always ticks were attached near the lizards' forelimbs. Possible mortality resulting from tick infestation does not contribute significantly to the overall lizard mortality. Hence, these ectoparasites seem to have but a minor impact on the lizard populations.     

Instar development and disengagement rate of engorged female winter ticks,Dermacentor albipictus (Acari: Ixodidae), following single- and trickle-exposure of moose (Alces alces)

Seven hand-reared moose (Alces alces) calves and one yearling were infested with 30 000 larvae each of the winter tick,Dermacentor albipictus, either by single- or trickle-exposure (1000/day). They were examined weekly for instar changes from September/October until late May. By 2 and 3 weeks post-exposure, most larvae on single- and trickle-infested moose, respectively, had fed and molted to nymphs. Thereafter, tick development was similar between both infestation techniques. Nymphs dominated the tick population from October to mid-February, and adults from mid-February to May. The peak of host disengagement by engorged females was late March in both years. Weights of engorged females from calf moose declined over time during the disengagement period.     

Seasonal abundance and activity of the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in North China

Seasonal abundance and activity of all the three post-embryogenic stages of Haemaphysalis longicornis, both feeding and free-living phases, were evaluated over a period of 2 years, from February 2008 to January 2010, in North China. Feeding ticks were removed weekly from head and ears of domestic sheep and the attachment sites of this tick were assessed coinstantaneously; free-living ticks were collected weekly in four habitat types by flag-dragging. The results suggested that H. longicornis mainly resides in shrubs and completes one generation per year with population attrition between stages. Infestation of nymphs was detected from March to September with highest peak between late April and early May; adults were detected from April to September with highest peak between late June and July, and an overwintering male population was found during late September to March; infestation of larvae was observed from June to October and peaked between middle August and early September. Most of this tick (91%) attached to head and ears of hosts. Additionally, we captured rodents from April to September 2008, but only a negligible number of nymphs were detected. This result suggested that rodents are not the principal hosts for this tick in the study area.