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Open AccessArticle

Seasonal Dynamics of Tick Species in the Ecotone of Parks and Recreational Areas in Middlesex County (New Jersey, USA)

Julia González

Dina M. Fonseca

and

Alvaro Toledo

Insects 2023, 14(3), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14030258 - 05 Mar 2023

Viewed by 939

Abstract

People often use parks and other forested areas for outdoor activities such as hiking and walking their dogs. Areas of primary use are paths or grassy meadows on the edges of the forests that constitute transitional areas between different plant communities (aka ecotones). In this study, we monitored the seasonal dynamics of questing ticks in forest/meadow and forest/path ecotones in five areas in Middlesex County, New Jersey (NJ). We found anthropophilic species such as Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma americanum, and Dermacentor variabilis coexisting with Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive tick species first detected in NJ in 2017. Surveillance was conducted weekly from March to November 2020, and collected ticks were identified. The most abundant tick species was H. longicornis (83%), followed by A. americanum (9%), I. scapularis (7%), and D. variabilis (<1%). The seasonal dynamics of A. americanum and I. scapularis in the ecotone were similar to previous surveys in forest habitats. The presence of anthropophilic ticks, particularly I. scapularis, suggests the need for specific control approaches to target these habitats. In addition, the extraordinarily high numbers of H. longicornis collected in ecotones (1.70 ticks/m²) and frequent reports of this species on dogs highlight the importance of monitoring its expansion due to its potential as a vector of animal and human diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Advances in Acarology)

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Open AccessCommunication

Efficacy of In Vitro Lithium Chloride Treatments on Dermacentor reticulatus

and

Insects 2023, 14(2), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14020110 - 20 Jan 2023

Viewed by 802

Abstract

Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabr., 1794) (Acari: Ixodidae) is parasite that spreads many diseases which are dangerous to humans and animals. Microelement lithium was found to have promising potential against the detrimental bee pest Varroa destructor. Furthermore, its effectiveness was confirmed against Dermanyssus gallinae, a major parasite of poultry, in vitro. In the present study, we investigated whether the efficacy of lithium chloride extends to other parasitic species, such as D. reticulatus. Our results revealed, for the first time, that the effectiveness of lithium chloride extends to D. reticulatus, confirmed to have 100% mortality at a relatively high minimum concentration of 1.38 M in vitro. The 24 h and 48 h median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values proved to be 0.654 M and 0.481 M, respectively, for this species. Our pilot study may contribute to a better understanding of the properties of lithium ion. Furthermore, it may elicit further studies aiming to reveal whether the different environmental mineral conditions may influence the D. reticulatus population. Further studies might reveal whether lithium has any possible veterinary relevance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Advances in Acarology)

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Open AccessArticle

Geometric Morphometric Analysis and Molecular Identification of Coconut Mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) Collected from Thailand

and

Insects 2022, 13(11), 1022; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13111022 - 05 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1116

Abstract

One of the most impactful pests in several coconut production regions across the world is the coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer. Scholars can obtain some necessary biogeographic information about coconut mites from studies that explore the geographic patterns of morphological variations and molecular properties among coconut mite populations from various locales. To investigate the geographical origin, ancestral host associations, and colonization history of the mite in Thailand, we obtained DNA sequence data from two mitochondrial (16s and COI) and one nuclear region (ITS) from coconut mite samples originating from 25 populations; additionally, we analyzed the morphological variations in the prodorsal shield and the coxigenital and ventral regions of the mite idiosoma. From the results of experiments using both identification methods, we identified the mite as the coconut mite, A. guerreronis (Acari: Eriophyidae). According to the phylogenetic analysis results of the 25 mite samples, we classified the mites as being closely related to mites found by the authors of a previous report in India. We are the first to report the results of a geometric morphometric analysis and molecular identification of A. guerreronis in Thailand, and our findings support the idea that the mites’ origin and invasion history are not well documented, which makes it difficult to apply quarantine procedures and search for biological pest control agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Advances in Acarology)

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