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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #377233
Research Project: Identification of Novel Management Strategies for Key Pests and Pathogens of Grapevine with Emphasis on the Xylella Fastidiosa Pathosystem

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: Waveforms from AC-DC electropenetrography of the Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, feeding on calf

Author
item Backus, Elaine
item REIF, KATHRYN - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2020
Publication Date: 6/9/2021
Citation: Backus, E.A., Reif, K.E. 2021. Waveforms from AC-DC electropenetrography of the Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, feeding on calf. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Available: https://www.eventscribe.com/2020/entomology2020/searchGlobal.asp?mode=posters&SearchQuery=Backus.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ticks are important nuisance pests and vectors of pathogens for livestock, companion animals, and humans. Development and rigorous evaluation of management methods for ticks and tick-borne pathogens is hampered by lack of information on tick feeding behaviors. This poster describes a study that begins to address this need. AC-DC electropenetrography (EPG) was used to monitor feeding of adult Lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum, in real-time during early slow-phase tick feeding using an awake calf host. Discernable and stereotypical waveforms of low-, medium-, and high-frequencies were revealed. Tick waveforms were hierarchically categorized into three families: Aa1, Aa2 and Aa3, containing seven types. A1 consisted of short, stereotypical episodes repeated every 10 sec for 3 – 6 min in each cycle; Aa2 was a uniquely-structured pattern that occurred each time at the end of a cycle of Aa1 episodes. A3 occurred only rarely. Because of the timing of these waveforms in early-stage feedng, both waveforms likely represent some type of salivation and/or sensory processing. This study serves as a foundation for future research aimed to correlate specific feeding behaviors with waveforms, and ultimately the influence of control measures and pathogens on tick feeding.