Responses of Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis to odorants that attract haematophagous insects.
Carbon dioxide (CO(2) ), 1-octen-3-ol, acetone, ammonium hydroxide, L-lactic-acid, dimethyl trisulphide and isobutyric acid were tested as attractants for two tick species, Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae), in dose-response bioassays using Y-tube olfactometers. Only CO(2) , acetone, 1-octen-3-ol and ammonium hydroxide elicited significant preferences from adult A. americanum, and only CO(2)  was attractive to adult D. variabilis. Acetone, 1-octen-3-ol and ammonium hydroxide were separately evaluated at three doses against CO(2)  (from dry ice) at a field site supporting a natural population of A. americanum nymphs and adults. Carbon dioxide consistently attracted the highest number of host-seeking ticks. However, for the first time, acetone, 1-octen-3-ol and ammonium hydroxide were shown to attract high numbers of A. americanum. Further research is needed to determine the utility of these semiochemicals as attractants in tick surveillance and area-wide management programmes.
Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA.
A L
AL
Carr
R M
RM
Roe
C
C
Arellano
D E
DE
Sonenshine
C
C
Schal
C S
CS
Apperson
D000818:Animals; D003870:Dermacentor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007300:Insect Control; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013045:Species Specificity
D010675:Pheromones