Palp-splaying behavior and a specific mouthpart site associated with active water vapor uptake in Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae).
Ticks actively absorb water vapor from unsaturated air via their mouthparts. A wax technique was used to cover select areas of the mouthparts of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), to examine whether a specific site is involved in uptake. Covering dorsal, ventral, and distal regions failed to inhibit uptake, whereas wax applied to the proximal region, specifically the hypostome-cheliceral junction, blocked water absorption. A novel occurrence of a palp-splaying behavior was observed during hydrating conditions (93% RH), while ticks were motionless, compared with those held at desiccating conditions (63% RH), which were more active and the palps were not splayed.
Sigal
M D
MD
Science Department, Gaston College, Dallas, NC 28034, USA.
Yoder
J A
JA
Needham
G R
GR
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005260:Female; D009055:Mouth; D013987:Ticks / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water
D014867:Water