In Texas, adult activity peaks in August, followed by larvae in December and nymphs in January. Coastal populations found in Texas are active from May through March, whereas inland populations in Oklahoma and Kansas are active from February through October. Seasonal peaks in Gulf Coast tick populations vary based on their geographic location. Replete ticks drop from their host and stay hidden in the environment as they undergo a molt to the next active life stage. Once on the host, immature Gulf Coast ticks remain attached until fully engorged, which can take up to 10 days. Gulf Coast ticks are xerophilic, which means that they love drier environments, and can quest for an extended period of time in peak temperature environments to find suitable hosts. After the blood meal and mating have been completed, the females drop off the host and find suitable microhabitats to lay their egg clutch, which typically takes up to 26 days males remain on the host and mate with additional females.įollowing an incubation period of up to three weeks in optimum temperatures (~80☏ at 70-98% humidity), larvae hatch and aggregate on the lower surface of vegetation before ascending the foliage in search for their first host through a behavior called questing. Males move to the females and complete the mating process. Thereafter, female Gulf Coast ticks aggregate near the male and attach to the host to blood feed. After eight days of blood feeding on a host and completion of spermatogenesis, male Gulf Coast ticks release a pheromone which alerts female ticks, also located on the host, that they are ready to mate. Gulf Coast ticks preferentially infest the ears of host animals and feed by inserting their barbed mouthparts, called a hypostome, into the host’s skin.įeeding and mating occur in succession on the host. In general, Gulf Coast tick larvae and nymphs feed on small animals, such as birds, rodents and rabbits, while adults feed on larger animals including dogs, coyotes, skunks, panthers, and bears. Gulf Coast ticks are considered three-host ticks because each active life stage feeds on a different host. Seasonal activity of Gulf Coast ticks varies among life stage and population locality. Adult ticks attach and concentrate feeding primarily in the ears of their hosts. This clustered feeding habit concentrates tissue damage and can cause “gotch ear” in young calves, a condition that negatively effects their sale value at market. A three-host tick, the Gulf Coast tick is an arthropod of veterinary and medical importance throughout its range.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |