Good (and Bad) Words for the Ontological (and Anthropomorphic) Description of Behavior

Otálora-Luna, Fernando; Fulmore, Tiara; Páez-Rondón, Oscar; Aldana, Elis; Brinkerhoff, Jory

doi:10.1007/s12304-021-09449-5

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Nevertheless, questing ticks are exposed to both thermal stimuli, convective heat (i.e., hot air currents) and radiant heat (i.e., IR electromagnetic waves) emitted by an approaching animal host. From an ethological approach, it is relevant to expose ticks to conditions similar to those encountered in nature-in the sense of Whitehead, García Bacca, Otálora-Luna et al [56][57][58]-as a questing tick will rapidly decide to cling on a host at a short distance from skin. In our experiments, we studied tick kinematics while offering a source that produced both thermal convection and thermal radiation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavior of Nymphs and Adults of the Black-Legged Tick Ixodes scapularis and the Lone Star Tick Ambylomma americanum in Response to Thermal Stimuli

Otálora-Luna

Dickens

Brinkerhoff

et al. 2022

Insects

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ticks use chemical and thermal signals emitted by humans and other vertebrates to locate suitable hosts for a blood meal. Here, we study the behavior of black-legged Ixodes scapularis and the lone star ticks Amblyomma americanum exposed to heat sources held at temperatures near those of vertebrate hosts (32 °C). First, we used a locomotion compensator to test behavioral responses of ticks to an infrared light emitting diode (LED). The servosphere allowed us to measure parameters such as velocity, acceleration, linearity, and orientation. Then a heating element (Peltier) located in one of the extremes of a double-choice vertical rod (flying T), was employed to observe upward movement of the ticks toward such a heat source. While both species oriented toward the LED, only lone star ticks were attracted to the Peltier element while climbing upward. In conclusion, we showed that heat attracted ticks from short distances up to several centimeters on a the servosphere, and those responses differed between the two species of ticks on the flying T. We discuss our results in the context of the ecology of both tick species and their potential in tick survey and management.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%