Survival of the Lone Star Tick, Amblyomma Americanum (Acari: Ixodidae), in Contrasting Habitats and Different Years in Southeastern Oklahoma, USA

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Abstract
Engorged larval, nymphal, and female lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum , were released at monthly intervals in different habitats in southeastern Oklahoma during April–October in 1978–1980 to study their development and survival. Bottomland oak-hickory, upland oak-hickory, and upland pine habitats were nearly equally suitable areas for tick survival during 1978–1979 when rainfall and temperature were similar. High temperatures and low humidities in 1980 reduced tick survival in all habitats by at least 50% from that observed in 1978 and 1979. However, the bottomland oak-hickory habitat had significantly higher survival of ticks than the 2 upland wooded sites during the summer drought of 1980 and was the only habitat in which ticks molting in 1979 survived the summer of 1980. The 4th habitat, a meadow, was much less suitable for tick survival and development during all 3 consecutive years. Survival of ticks that had molted in polyester packets in 1978 in the bottomland habitat was: oversummer 1978 = 96% of the adults and nymphs; overwinter 1978–1979 = 91% of the adults and 59% of the nymphs; oversummer 1979 = 51% of the adults and 26% of the nymphs; and overwinter 1979–1980 = 30% of the adults and 2% of the nymphs. Larvae in polyester packets were able to overwinter from 1978–1979 and 1979–1980. Quantitative data on activity and development of lone star ticks are reported for 3 years of study in natural habitats.