Larvae of Ixodiphagus wasps (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Brazil.
The biological control of ticks represents an alternative method to the chemical control, given its ecological-friendly approach. Amongst the alternatives, the use of parasitoids of the genus Ixodiphagus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) has been largely investigated. The aim of this study was to document and molecularly characterize Ixodiphagus wasps in ticks from a tropical region of Brazil. From October 2015 to March 2016, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks (n=1814) were collected from naturally infested dogs and Ixodiphagus larvae were detected by microscopic examination. In addition, adult wasps were obtained in the laboratory. Larvae and adults were molecularly identified as Ixodiphagus hookeri. These findings suggest that this type of parasitism deserves to be studied in local tick populations, in order to elucidate the role of these wasps as a potential alternative to chemical tick control.
Unidade Acadêmica de Garanhuns, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Brazil.
Marcos Antônio
MA
Bezerra Santos
Unidade Acadêmica de Garanhuns, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Brazil.
Lucia Oliveira
LO
de Macedo
Unidade Acadêmica de Garanhuns, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Brazil.
Islanne Barbosa
IB
de Souza
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil.
Carlos Alberto
CA
do Nascimento Ramos
Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
Leucio Câmara
LC
Alves
Unidade Acadêmica de Garanhuns, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Brazil. Electronic address: rafaelanramos10@yahoo.com.br.
Rafael Antonio Nascimento
RAN
Ramos
Unidade Acadêmica de Garanhuns, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Brazil.
Gílcia Aparecida
GA
de Carvalho
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D048508:Rhipicephalus sanguineus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013983:Tick Control; D014863:Wasps / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
Biological control; Ixodiphagus hookeri; Parasitoid; Ticks