Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2020
Abstract
The cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus annulatus (Say), is an economically destructive arthropod because of its ability to vector bovine babesiosis. Cattle fever ticks can spend more than 90% of their life cycle as questing larvae, but the effect of climatic factors on their off-host behavior and survival is unclear. The goal of this study was to measure the effects of specific ecological factors on off-host larvae in nature. The study was conducted in a south Texas pasture over a 20-mo period, during which time larval populations were surveyed and ambient weather variables - relative humidity and temperatures - were recorded. Oviposition success and larval survival varied between cattle fever tick cohorts and was affected by relative humidity and canopied (with tree cover) versus exposed habitat. The results show that relative humidity and the interaction of relative humidity and inhabiting canopied habitats play a key role in oviposition success. Additionally, canopied habitats have a positive influence on off-host larval survival in the spring and summer.
Recommended Citation
Zamora, E. J., Leal, B., Thomas, D. B., & Dearth, R. K. (2020). Survival of off-host unfed Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae) larvae in study arenas in relation to climatic factors and habitats in South Texas, USA. Ticks and tick-borne diseases, 11(1), 101317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101317
Publication Title
Ticks and tick-borne diseases
DOI
10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101317
Comments
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