Examination of the Internal Morphology of the Ixodid Tick, Amblyomma maculatum Koch, (Acari: Ixodidae); a “How-to” Pictorial Dissection Guide

Authors

K. T. Edward, Mississippi State University
J. Goddard, Mississippi State University
A. S. Varela-Stokes, Mississippi State University

Abstract

There is inadequate documentation of how to dissect ticks, a process required for many tick and disease studies. While the literature may contain numerous line drawings and instructions describing the process, none is adequate for the novice tick dissector. We present a “how-to” description and pictorial essay outlining our approach to tick dissection. The ticks used in this study were adult male and female Gulf Coast ticks, Amblyomma maculatum Koch, though the methods described herein could be applied to any species. None of the A. maculatum specimens we dissected adequately demonstrated ovaries, so we used one female A. americanum L.tick that we found to show them more clearly. The tissues targeted in this study included salivary glands, midgut, Malpighian tubules and ovaries. Tracheae are also delineated because they might easily be confused with Malpighian tubules.

Recommended Citation

Edward, K. T.; Goddard, J.; and Varela-Stokes, A. S. (2009) "Examination of the Internal Morphology of the Ixodid Tick, Amblyomma maculatum Koch, (Acari: Ixodidae); a “How-to” Pictorial Dissection Guide," Midsouth Entomologist: Vol. 2: No. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/midsouthent/vol2/iss1/4