Biomaterial Database

Occurrence of larval Ixodes scapularis (Acari:Ixodidae) on tree trunks. 1996

J F Carroll

Parasite Biology and Epidemiology Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.

Host-seeking larvae of blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say, were found on the trunks of 7 species of trees in a mixed deciduous woodland in Maryland. Where larvae were present around the bases of trees, larvae were found on 45.8% of the tree trucks. Almost 15% of the larvae found on tree trunks were approximately 1-2 m above the ground. Larger trees harbored larvae more often than smaller trees. Trees having a circumference at breast height of > or = 1 m (0.96 m diameter) averaged 3.19 larvae. Because white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque), the principal hosts of I. scapularis larvae, frequently nest in trees, it may not be detrimental to host-seeking larvae to ascend and remain on tree trunks.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007814	Larva	Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals.	Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014197	Trees	Woody, usually tall, perennial higher plants (Angiosperms, Gymnosperms, and some Pterophyta) having usually a main stem and numerous branches.	Tree
D018884	Ixodes	The largest genus of TICKS in the family IXODIDAE, containing over 200 species. Many infest humans and other mammals and several are vectors of diseases such as LYME DISEASE; ENCEPHALITIS, TICK-BORNE; and KYASANUR FOREST DISEASE.	Black-legged Tick,Blacklegged Tick,California Black Legged Tick,Castor Bean Tick,Deer Tick,Ixodes dammini,Ixodes pacificus,Ixodes persulcatus,Ixodes ricinus,Ixodes scapularis,Western Black Legged Tick,Western Blacklegged Tick,Black legged Tick,Black-legged Ticks,Blacklegged Tick, Western,Blacklegged Ticks,Castor Bean Ticks,Deer Ticks,Ixodes damminus,Ixodes scapulari,Tick, Black-legged,Tick, Blacklegged,Tick, Castor Bean,Tick, Deer,Tick, Western Blacklegged,Western Blacklegged Ticks