Amblyomma americanum 1: Comparison of Populations of Ticks Free Living on Pasture and Parasitic on Cattle23

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Abstract
Populations of female Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae) attached to bovines were recorded in one of three growth classes based on length of the scutum plus alloscutum; Gl (unfed), ≤2.38 mm; G2 (feeding), 2.39–5.25 mm; G3 (replete), ≤5.26 mm. Significantly more female ticks parasitized cattle in April, May, and June than in March or July; few females were found on cattle in other months. Average numbers of G3 females per bovine per month were not significantly different between March and July, and the percentage of females in class G3 per month was not significantly different between March and August. Male A. americanum were found on bovines in all months and generally outnumbered females on the host. Many males overwintered on cattle during December, January, February, and March. Log numbers of A. americanum on cattle regressed significantly on log numbers of free-living ticks attracted to CO2 or collected with drag on pastures in southeastern Oklahoma. However, predictions of numbers of ticks parasitic on bovines based on samples of the free-living tick population were imprecise, and slopes of the regression lines for adults, nymphs, and larvae were significantly different. It was concluded that CO2 and drag samples of nonparasitic ticks did not accurately reflect levels of tick infestation on bovines.

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