Inability of the lone star tick,Amblyomma Americanum(L.), to resist desiccation and maintain water balance following application of the entomopathogenic fungusMetarhizium anisopliaevar.anisopliae(Deuteromycota)

An endosymbiotic conidial fungus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, protects the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, from desiccation imposed by an entomopathogenic fungus

“…Methods and equations for determining the various water balance characteristics follow those of Wharton (1985) with modifications by Yoder and Spielman (1992), Hadley (1994), Benoit et al (2006) and Yoder et al (2006) and were based on gravimetric analysis, which yields similar results as determinations using radioactive tracers (Knü lle and Devine, 1972;Wharton, 1985;Yoder and Knapp, 1999). Mass measurements were accomplished using a microbalance (SD ± 0.2 lg precision and SD ± 6.0 lg accuracy at 1 mg; Cahn, Ventron Co., Cerritos, CA).…”

“…Spore concentration was adjusted with PBS for use in the experiment. The preparation of M. anisopliae was used as a topical treatment, applied directly onto the dorsal idiosoma, with each tick receiving 2 ll applied at a concentration of 1.3 · 10 8 conidia/ml to promote mortality based on previous studies (Gomathinayagam et al, 2002;Kirkland et al, 2004;Yoder et al, 2006).…”

Meeting the challenges of on-host and off-host water balance in blood-feeding arthropods

“…Classification of xeric, mesic, and hygric is based on Hadley (1994). List in order from lowest to highest water loss rates: Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera; Hadley, 1994), Ornithodoros savigny (Argasidae; Hafez et al, 1970), Amblyomma cajennense (Ixodidae; Needham and Teel, 1991) Hyalomma dromedarii (Ixodidae; Hafez et al, 1970), Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera; Benoit et al, 2007b), Ornithodoros moubata (Argasidae Lees, 1947), Dermacentor andersoni (Ixodidae; Yoder et al, 2007), Amblyomma maculatum (Ixodidae; Yoder et al, 2009), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Ixodidae; Yoder et al, 2006a), Glossina morsitans (Diptera; Bursell, 1960), Dermacentor variabilis (Ixodidae; Yoder et al, 2004), Dermacentor albipictus (Ixodidae; Needham and Teel, 1991), Amblyomma americanum (Ixodidae; Yoder et al, 2006c), Ixodes uriae (Ixodidae; Benoit et al, 2007a), Ixodes scapularius (Ixodidae; Yoder and Spielman, 1992), Ixodes ricinus (Ixodidae; Lees, 1946), Xenopsylla confromi (Siphonaptera; Fielden et al, 2002), Rhipicephalus annulatus (Ixodidae; Needham and Teel, 1991), Xenopsylla ramesis (Siphonaptera; Fielden et al, 2002), Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera; Thiemann et al, 2003), Culex pipiens (Diptera; Benoit and Denlinger, 2007), Aedes aegypti (Diptera; Benoit et al, 2009), Aedes albopictus (Diptera; Benoit, J.B. unpublished observation), Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera; Gray and Bradley, 2005), Anopheles gambiae (Gray and Bradley, 2005). …”

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as Carriers of Fungi in Hospital Environments: An Emphasis on the Genera <I>Tapinoma</I> and <I>Pheidole</I>

“…Engorged ticks showed great degrees of resistance to infection by fungal pathogens during experimentation with ticks in varying life stages and conditions; conversely, unfed ticks showed accelerated rates of infection and quicker mortality (Samsinakova et al 1974;Gindin et al 2002;Yoder et al 2006). A Mucor sp.…”

“…Despite the ability to survive prolonged intervals without nourishment, mortality peaked at 3 to 4 days after appearance of the fungus, so it is unlikely that starvation is the principal cause of mortality. Yoder et al (2006) noted the inability of tick test subjects to maintain water balance when infected with Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavipitaceae); water loss may be an indicator of pathogenicity.…”