Ambient Air Temperature as a Predictor of Activity of Adult Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract

Based on winter flagging experiments on Long Island, NY, adult Ixodes scapularis Say have an apparent threshold of questing activity at 4 degrees C. This threshold should be incorporated into public education efforts because the public may be at risk of contracting Lyme disease any time during the winter when temperatures exceed 4 degrees C.

Tick Population in Goats and Sheep in Šabac

“…Both studied the temperature below which the activity of ticks is completely stopped and the temperature at which it expressed its full activity and found a significant relationship of tick activities and the degree of reduction of temperature for adult forms. This agrees with the data published about ticks in various part of Russia, Central Europe and the West Balkans (4,12,13,14,20,21,25,26,29,31).…”

The Biological Survey of Canada: A Personal History

“…Adults seeking hosts in the fall and subsequent spring represent the same cohort of ticks. Adults that do not acquire a host in the fall enter a quiescent phase when cold temperatures and snow cover inhibit host-seeking behaviour (Duffy and Campbell 1994); these ticks resume host-seeking in the following spring. Quiescence may be incomplete and adults can be collected in the winter months in parts of its range, or in certain years, when extended periods of snow cover or sub-zero temperatures are not experienced (Watson and Anderson 1976).…”

Incidence and hospitalisation rates of Lyme borreliosis, France, 2004 to 2012

“…Ticks become active when the ambient temperature increases above 4-5 °C, below which they are in a chill coma (Balashov, 1972;Duffy & Campbell, 1994;Clark, 1995). Higher temperatures are needed for metamorphosis and egg hatching, i.e.…”

“…Short-cut lawns hold few ticks for example (Duffy & Campbell, 1994). Choosing plants that are not attractive as forage for larger hosts such as roe deer and hares helps reduce the risk of accidental tick introduction into gardens and parks .…”