Questing Behavior of Adult Amblyomma americanum (L.) in a Laboratory Setting

ORCID

Goddard: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2617-7141

MSU Affiliation

College of Forest Resources; Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture; College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Biological Sciences; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology

Creation Date

2026-10-30

Abstract

Tick-borne diseases are on the rise globally; however, information is lacking about tick questing behavior. In this laboratory study, we explored tick preferences for stem type (plastic grass, wooden, and metal), questing height, and head orientation. Using 60 Amblyomma americanum adults over three 72-hour replicates, we determined that 21.7% of ticks quested at any given time and that ticks exhibited a strong preference to quest with their heads oriented downwards, irrespective of stem type. Individual ticks tended to quest on only one stem in this study, and a maximum of three. Nonetheless, ticks appeared to prefer questing on wooden and plastic grass stems over metal stems. We did not find an effect of time of day on tick questing rates. Increased understanding of tick questing behavior can improve vector control efforts.

Keywords

Amblyomma americanum, artificial stems, ecology, host acquisition, questing behavior, ticks

Publication Date

12-15-2021

Publication Title

Systematic and Applied Acarology

Publisher

Systematic and Applied Acarology Society

First Page

2303

Last Page

2310

Rights

© Systematic & Applied Acarology Society

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.26.12.9