A 5-yr study to evaluate the influence of annual and biennial prescribed burning in March on the abundance of Amblyomma americanum (L.) was conducted on Oconee Wildlife Management Area in the Piedmont physiographic region of Georgia. Tick abundance on plots embedded in larger burned and unburned areas were monitored with cloth drags and CO2-baited cloth panels monthly during March through September from 1987 through 1991. Annual and biennial prescribed burning from 1988 to 1991 significantly reduced the abundance of larvae, nymphs, and adults but did not alter their seasonal trends of abundance. Annual burning more consistently suppressed all life stages than biennial burning. The magnitude of tick suppression tended to increase with successive burns, especially with the annual burning regime. The order of vulnerability to direct incineration appeared to be overwintered larvae > adults > nymphs; however, only overwintered larvae were highly vulnerable. Consistent reductions in larvae during June-September following burning were associated with reduced litter depths and presumably lowered habitat suitability. During years of fire omission, the abundance of larvae on biennially burned plots increased to levels equal to or exceeding those on unburned plots. Based on cloth drag sampling, mean percentage control during 1988-1991 for larvae, nymphs, and adults, respectively, was 80, 75, and 70% on annually burned plots and 48, 73, and 65% on biennially burned plots. Frequent late-winter prescribed burning, which is commonly used to achieve wildlife habitat management objectives, could be an effective and economical component of an integrated A. americanum control program in habitats ecologically suited to regimes of frequent fire.
Seasonal and annual changes in the abundance of Amblyomma americanum (L.) larvae, nymphs, and adults were monitored over a 5-yr period in the Piedmont physiographic region of Georgia. Tick abundance was monitored with cloth drags (all life stages) and CO2-baited cloth panels (nymphs and adults) monthly during March through September from 1987 through 1991. Larvae appeared in substantial numbers in July and were most numerous in August and September. Small numbers of unfed larvae apparently overwintered each year based on their presence during March, April, or May. Nymphs were most numerous from April through June and declined to much lower numbers by August and September. Adults were most numerous from March through May and virtually disappeared by August. These seasonal patterns were similar to those reported for A. americanum at other southeastern locations. Each life stage exhibited similar trends of annual abundance with an increase in 1988 followed by a relatively steady decline to levels equivalent to or below initial 1987 values by 1991. Major environmental variables that potentially could have influenced annual abundance were identified from Haile & Mount's (1987) computerized model of A. americanum population dynamics. Habitat type, host density, and day length were constants and rationally could be excluded as causes of annual variations in abundance; weather and host-finding rate were presumed to have been primarily responsible for these annual differences.
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