Lizards as hosts for immature Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in North Carolina.
Previously archived museum specimens of lizards collected throughout North Carolina were examined for Ixodes scapularis (Say). Lizards (n = 1,349) collected in 80 of North Carolina's 100 counties were examined. Lizards with ticks were collected in 23 (29%) of the 80 counties from which lizards were examined. I. scapularis was detected on 8.7% (n = 117) of the lizards and was the sole species of tick obtained from lizards. Immature ticks were most frequently found on the southeastern five-lined skink, Eumeces inexpectatus, and the eastern glass lizard, Ophisaurus ventralis. Larvae were most frequently found on the six-lined racerunner, Cnemidophorus sexlineatus. One C. sexlineatus harbored 177 larvae and 2 nymphs. Nymphs were most frequently observed on E. inexpectatus. The majority of counties (chi 2, P < 0.01) where ticks were found on lizards were in the Coastal Plain.
Levine
J F
JF
Apperson
C S
CS
Howard
P
P
Washburn
M
M
Braswell
A L
AL
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D018884:Ixodes / Q000254:growth & development; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina