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Experiments on the ectoparasitic deer ked that often attacks humans; preferences for body parts, colour and temperature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

R. Kortet ,
L. Härkönen ,
P. Hokkanen ,
S. Härkönen ,
A. Kaitala ,
S. Kaunisto ,
S. Laaksonen ,
J. Kekäläinen  and
H. Ylönen
R. Kortet*
Affiliation:
University of Oulu, Department of Biology, PO Box 3000, FI-90014Oulu, Finland University of Joensuu, Faculty of Biosciences, PO Box 111, FI-80101Joensuu, Finland
L. Härkönen
Affiliation:
University of Oulu, Department of Biology, PO Box 3000, FI-90014Oulu, Finland
P. Hokkanen
Affiliation:
Finnish Forest Research Institute, Joensuu Research Unit, PO Box 68, FI-80101Joensuu, Finland
S. Härkönen
Affiliation:
Finnish Forest Research Institute, Joensuu Research Unit, PO Box 68, FI-80101Joensuu, Finland
A. Kaitala
Affiliation:
University of Oulu, Department of Biology, PO Box 3000, FI-90014Oulu, Finland
S. Kaunisto
Affiliation:
University of Joensuu, Faculty of Biosciences, PO Box 111, FI-80101Joensuu, Finland
S. Laaksonen
Affiliation:
Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira), Fish and Wildlife Health Research Unit, PO Box 517, FI-90101Oulu, Finland
J. Kekäläinen
Affiliation:
University of Joensuu, Faculty of Biosciences, PO Box 111, FI-80101Joensuu, Finland
H. Ylönen
Affiliation:
University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Konnevesi Research Station, PO Box 35, FI-40014Jyväskylä, Finland
*
*Author for correspondence Fax: +358-8-553 1061 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The deer ked (Lipoptena cervi) can fail in its host search. Host search fails when an individual deer ked irreversibly accepts a host unsuitable for its reproduction (e.g. a human) and drops its wings. In northern Europe, the main host of the deer ked is the moose (Alces alces). The deer ked is increasingly causing serious problems for humans (for example, causing deer ked dermatitis) and is considered a threat for the recreational use of forests. The adult deer ked flies in early and mid-autumn to search for a host. Our aims were: (i) to study whether there are ways to avoid deer ked attacks by wearing particular clothing, and (ii) to evaluate deer ked host choice. Using human targets, we explored the cues the deer ked uses for host selection. We studied which part of the host body deer keds target and if body colour and temperature affect their choice. In our experiments, deer keds landed more on dark and red clothing than on white clothing. Moreover, deer keds mostly attacked the upper body parts and preferred the back side of the body over the front side. Finally, deer keds preferred the warmest areas of the host.

Keywords

Hippoboscidsparasitehost searchhost choicecolour preference
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 100 , Issue 3 , June 2010 , pp. 279 - 285
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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