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Diurnal and seasonal activity of unfed adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Acarina: Ixodidae) in relation to some intrinsic and extrinsic factors—II. Factors affecting vertical distribution of ticks in the habitat*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

D. K. Punyua ,
R. M. Newson  and
M. J. Mutinga
D. K. Punyua
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi
R. M. Newson
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi
M. J. Mutinga
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

When marked adults of the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus were released into 25 × 25 cm plots in the field, their vertical distribution in the habitat was assessed after recovery, by comparing the number of ticks on the vegetation with those on the soil surface. In the hot dry season, 73% of the ticks were recovered. Of these a third were on the vegetation and two thirds at the soil surface. Out of the 67% recovered in the wet season, only 15% were found at the soil surface and the rest on the vegetation. In the cool dry season, 75% were recovered with roughly equal proportions on the vegetation and the soil surface. This suggests that only a third of the ticks would be available to be picked up by the hosts during the hot dry season. Two thirds would be available during the wet season and only half were available during the cool dry season.

Keywords

Rhipicephalus appendiculatusvertical distributionvegetationsoilhot dry seasonwet seasoncool dry seasontemperaturerelative humidityactivity
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 5 , Issue 4 , August 1984 , pp. 245 - 246
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1984

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References

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