Laboratory Studies of Movement and Microenvironment Choices of Engorged Adult Female Amblyomma maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae)

ORCID

Goddard: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2617-7141; Caprio: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0836-260X

MSU Affiliation

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology

Creation Date

2026-09-30

Abstract

Microenvironmental factors affect ovipositional choices and behavior in ticks. In this study, engorged female Amblyomma maculatum Koch were released in an observation arena covered with garden soil. The arena was evenly split into wet and dry sides, each containing 5 different types of structures (totaling 10). Upon release, observations at particular time points were made over 2 days as to speed, distance, actual paths traveled, and ultimate site selection, presumably for oviposition. In addition, time-lapse videography was utilized to record the track of each individual tick. This scenario was replicated 3 times with different cohorts of ticks (n = 5 per replicate). Of the total 15 ticks released in the arena, all attained a final site selection by 24 h. These final sites were 7/15 (47%) edge of arena; 2/15 (13%) under bark; 2/15 (13%) open soil; 2/15 (13%) at or near release point; 1/15 (7%) tunnel with animal fur; and 1/15 (7%) tunnel with chicken feathers. At final site selection, 11/15 (73%) subsequently burrowed into the soil, 3 of which were completely buried. Time-lapse videography revealed that most ticks (80%) explored the arena in a "looping back"fashion. Overall, engorged Gulf Coast ticks moved at an average speed of 0.09 mm/s, and the total distance traversed by the ticks averaged 2.37 m.

Keywords

engorged female, Gulf Coast tick, microhabitat, oviposition, pre-oviposition behavior

Publication Date

7-2-2024

Publication Title

Journal of Medical Entomology

Publisher

Oxford University Press; Entomological Society of America

First Page

1149

Last Page

1154

Rights

© The Author(s) 2024

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjae082