Dermacentor reticulatus biorhythms in the northern forest-steppe of the Tyumen region

Abstract

To forecast the number of ticks and take successful measures for decreasing them in population it is necessary to know the features of their phenology in aparticular region. The majority of acarologists pays attention to the features of Ixodes persulcatus activity as they transmitixodic infections. The proved epizootic and epidemiological importance of Dermacentors dictates the necessity of developing and organizing the comprehensive control system against this specie of ticks to prevent diseases. This demand the fullest and comprehensive studying of ecology and phenology features of Dermacentor reticulatus of a particular region. The aim of the research is the detailed studying of bioecology of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks, the most widespread ticks in the Tyumen region. We had monitored over the life cycle features of Dermacentor reticulates in natural biotopes over the 2013 to 2014 period in the subzone of the northern forest-steppe of the Tyumen region. In natural climatic conditions of the specified climatic zone Dermacentor reticulatus are capable to give one generation per a parasitizing season if parasite juvenile forms meet feeders. The whole process of reproduction from egg up to the adult specimen emerge took from 69 to 161 days, and averagely 115±1.99 full days. Metamorphosis of larvae had taken the shortest time period (29.1±2.,0 full days or 25.3% of all cycle time), nymph and imago formations had happened practically for equal periods of 34.5±2.3 and 37.0±5.0 full days respectively. Having studied the regularities of the Dermacentor reticulates life cycles we can prove the emergence and the activity peaks of both juvenile, and adult phases of these ticks activity. That allows to plan actions on controlling these parasites in places of their dwelling.