Patience is not always a virtue: effects of terrain complexity on the host‐seeking behaviour of adult blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, in the presence of a stationary host

Abstract

Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), are the primary vectors of Lyme disease in the U.S.A. In this study, adult ticks were observed on public trails exhibiting increasing levels of terrain complexity with a potential host nearby. The goal of this study was to (a) examine the extent to which adult ticks may actively search (vs. sit‐and‐wait) for a nearby host, (b) determine whether or not ticks could locate the position of the host in natural conditions and (c) determine the role of terrain complexity on the distances ticks travelled in a short period of time (30 min). Results indicate that, when a potential stationary host is within 50 cm, ticks will utilize an active‐search strategy. The majority of ticks moved in the direction of the host in natural conditions. Finally, ticks in a less complex terrain were more active and travelled greater horizontal distances than ticks in a more complex terrain. In conclusion, the use of an active‐search approach would likely increase the foraging success of ticks, especially in terrains with minimal complexity, near host animals that have stopped to rest or feed, reinforcing that humans should be vigilant about checking for ticks after being outdoors.

Circadian regulation of locomotion, respiration, and arousability in adult blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis)

“…Warm air and CO 2 are potential indicators of nearby hosts, and it was, thereby, unsurprising both elicited lasting activity which was likely a host/stimulus seeking behavior. While other related ticks actively search for hosts, I. scapularis use a sit-and-wait strategy, waiting for hosts to come to them 51 . This calls into question www.nature.com/scientificreports/ the ultimate purpose of activity observed after CO 2 stimulus, and a closer approximation of a natural setting will be needed to elucidate.…”

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Tick-Borne Diseases in North-Central Wisconsin from 2000–2016

“…Another factor which may influence the spatial distributions of human non-Lyme tick-borne diseases is tick movement. Ticks only move short horizontal distances on their own [ 49 ] and white-tailed deer are an important host of adult I. scapularis, whose travel likely contributes to the geographic spread of I. scapularis in North America. In regions on the margins of I. scapularis distributions, established populations of I. scapularis can be found in isolated islands of forested habitat surrounded by inhospitable environments such as farmland [ 50 ].…”

Conservation Wildflower Plantings Do Not Enhance On-Farm Abundance of Amblyomma americanum (Ixodida: Ixodidae)

“…Adult A. americanum could be investing more in vertical movement in the habitat than horizontal since hosts are not likely to linger. This behavior was seen with I. scapularis in habitats that were deemed difficult for ticks to traverse due to the vertical habitat structure [ 41 ] With greater success in finding hosts, fewer A. americanum would be available to sample.…”

“…When the deer return to bed, A. americanum nymphs may have the time to successfully attach to the host. Ixodes scupalris more actively quest towards a host when the host is stationary [ 41 ]. Larger wildflower plots could potentially provide enough cover for deer to use as bedding sites, creating a similar situation.…”