Studies on the dynamics of active populations of the sheep tick, Ixodes ricinus L. in Co. Wicklow, Ireland
1984 - Volume: 25 Issue: 2 pages: 167-178
Keywords
Ixodes ricinus
Ireland
stases
annual activities
Abstract
This study on I. ricinus has shawn that two peaks of nymphal and adult activity, and one main peak of larval activity occurred each year over a five year period. At the start of the study period the autumn-feeding population was very prominent but by the fifth year the situation had changed and the springfeeding population had become dominant. This was probably brought about by two unusually warm successive summers acting on summer-feeding larvae that were derived from autumn-feeding adults. It was concluded that weather has little effect on active ticks once temperature thresholds for activity have been reached but that weather is of great importance in determining the availability of active ticks by affecting development rates. Explanations for the maintenance of patterns of tick activity are discussed.
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