Tick species establishment in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, U.S.A., identified by seasonal sampling in residential and non ‐residential sites

In this study, ticks were collected monthly for one year at residential and non‐residential sites in a suburban area of Oklahoma County, OK, U.S.A. At each trapping site, dry ice traps were used in both woodland and grassland areas and fabric tick drags were used in grassland areas. Four species were collected from each park:Amblyomma americanum,Amblyomma maculatum,Dermacentor variabilis, andIxodes scapularis. Prior to this study,A. americanum was the only species with an established population in Oklahoma County. Consistent with this,A. americanum was collected in all months of the year and accounted for over 90% of ticks collected at each site. Based on our tick survey, we report thatA. maculatum,D. variabilis, andI. scapularis, which were each collected in numbers greater than six within a single sampling occasion, are now each confirmed as established populations in Oklahoma County.
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research