A survey of the ability of tropical legumes in the genus Stylosanthes to trap larvae of the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Ixodidae)

Abstract

Stylosanthes viscosa and S. scabra cvv. Fitzroy and Seca have previously been shown to trap host-seeking larvae of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus and could provide a means of controlling cattle ticks in improved pastures. We assessed the ability of 229 accessions from 22 species of the genus Stylosanthes to trap larvae of B. microplus or to prevent them from ascending plant stems. The 3 species that were most effective were S. viscosa, S. scabra and S. guianensis. Only accessions which produced sticky secretions were able to trap tick larvae, but the extent of this ability was related primarily to the density and length of bristles on the stems rather than to the degree of stickiness. The highest percentages of larvae were trapped when stylo stems had short, dense bristles of average stickiness or long sticky bristles of average density. These features were also most effective at preventing larvae from ascending stems. A high density of fine, non-glandular hairs, in conjunction with average stickiness, also prevented larvae from ascending stems.

Cleome monophylla essential oil and its constituents as tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus) and maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) repellents

“…These methods are not very satisfactory due to the high cost of acaricides, the logistics of repeated treatment, the development of acaricide-resistant tick strains and contamination of milk, meat and the environment by the acaricides. The use of anti-tick plants which repel, immobilize or kill free living stages of ticks, has been proposed (Beesley, 1982;Sutherst et al, 1982;Sutherst et al, 1988;Wilson etal., 1989;Dipeolu etal., 1992;Malonza et al, 1992). Molasses grass, Melinis minutiflora, has been shown to reduce tick survival (Menendez, 1924;Thompson et al, 1978), and the tropical pasture legume Stylosanthes, produces sticky secretions that immobilize and kill larvae of ticks (Sutherst et al, 1982;Zimmerman et al, 1984;Sutherst & Wil-son, 1986;Sutherst et al, 1988;Wilson et al, 1989).…”

“…The use of anti-tick plants which repel, immobilize or kill free living stages of ticks, has been proposed (Beesley, 1982;Sutherst et al, 1982;Sutherst et al, 1988;Wilson etal., 1989;Dipeolu etal., 1992;Malonza et al, 1992). Molasses grass, Melinis minutiflora, has been shown to reduce tick survival (Menendez, 1924;Thompson et al, 1978), and the tropical pasture legume Stylosanthes, produces sticky secretions that immobilize and kill larvae of ticks (Sutherst et al, 1982;Zimmerman et al, 1984;Sutherst & Wil-son, 1986;Sutherst et al, 1988;Wilson et al, 1989). Recently, the tick repellent and acaricidal properties of the East African shrub Gynandropsis gynandra have been demonstrated and the plant proposed for use as an anti-tick pasture plant Malonza et al, 1992).…”

Repellent and acaricidal properties of Ocimum suave against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks

“…The acaricidal constituents of a number of other plants still remain to be identified. These include plants of the genus Stylosanthes (Sutherst et al, 1982;Sutherst and Wilson, 1986;Sutherst et al, 1988). Pasture grasses, Melinis minutiflora and Andropogon sp.…”

Pesticidal potential of tropical plants—II. Acaricidal activity of crude extracts of several Jamaican plants

“…(Thompson et al, 1978), Gyandropsis gynandra (Malonza et al, 1992), Ocimum suave , Margaritaria discoidea (Kaaya et al, 1995) and various species of Stylosanthes (Sutherst et al, 1988); and a ground mixture of natural products Dipeolu and Ndungu (1991). Commiphora erythraea (Carol et al, 1989), G. gynandra (Malonza et al, 1992) and O. suave extracts have been found to repel ticks, while Acalypha fniticosa contains compounds which attract them (Hassan et al, 1994).…”