Preliminary Observations on Controlled Burning for Lone Star Tick (Acarina: Ixodidae) Control in Woodlots1

Effect of Prescribed Fire for Tick Control in California Chaparral

“…Most studies on the effects of burning on tick abundance agree that there is an immediate decline in ticks following fire (Hoch et al 1972, Cully 1999, Fyumagwa et al 2007, Allan 2009, Adams et al 2013). This could be caused by direct mortality when temperatures exceed 150-165°C for at least 15 s (Scrifes et al 1988) or because tick refugia within the field layer are reduced or eliminated (Polito et al 2013).…”

Prevention and Prophylaxis of Tick Bites and Tick-Borne Related Diseases

“…Other strategies based on environmental management, as controlled burns, have been carried out with the aim of reducing the abundance of some ticks. Years ago, these strategies shown to reduce the abundance of some ticks on their different life stages (Smith et al, 1946;Rogers, 1953;Hoch et al, 1972;Drew et al, 1985;Wilson, 1986;Mather et al, 1993;Stafford et al, 1998). However, despite controlled burns of vegetation have initially shown to reduce the number of ticks and the suitable vegetation for tick habitat, the effects of this practice seem to be only temporary (Wilson, 1986;Stafford et al, 1998).…”

“…However, despite controlled burns of vegetation have initially shown to reduce the number of ticks and the suitable vegetation for tick habitat, the effects of this practice seem to be only temporary (Wilson, 1986;Stafford et al, 1998). Furthermore, the effect of vegetative destruction resulted in a reduction in the abundance of nymphal and larval stages, but the abundance of adult ticks was not affected in the same degree (Hoch et al, 1972;Stafford et al, 1998). More recent studies have found that controlled burns have the potential of increasing the abundance of some ticks due to an increase of their preeminent host, as the case of whitetailed deer for Amblyomma americanum (Allan, 2009).…”

Effects of Prescribed Burning on Game Species in the Southeastern United States. A Literature Review

“…More specifically, 35.1 percent (20/57) of poults on imbumed plots were infested with ticks, whereas 1.6 percent (1/59) of poults on burned plots were infested. A study in Oklahoma found that a bum in Jime reduced adult lone star tick abtmdance in the leaf Utter layer, but if ticks were in the lower duff layer or in the soil itself, they were likely to survive the bium (Hoch et al 1972). Davidson, Siefl^en, and Creekmore (1994) reported similar residts when a substantial proportion of a tick population in Georgia survived an initial bum; but larval, nymphal, and adult stages of lone star ticks were significantly reduced when annual and biennial btmndng were conducted consecutively for 4 years.…”

“…He foxmd adult black-legged ticks were significantly less widespread in 1-and 2-year-old roughs than in areas that had not been burned for 14 years. Prescribed burning was also shown to have negatively impacted overall ntunbers of larval and nymphal forms of the Uck Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick), but adult members of the population were not affected (Hoch et al 1972). Conversely, two annual bums in Georgia significantly reduced larval and adxilt lone star tick popvilations (Sieften 1991).…”