Abstract
Intensive observations of the questing activity of Ixodes ricinus ticks in the field were made to provide data on the range of durations of periods of continuous questing activity, and of the variation in questing activity between individuals. Continuous periods of questing were observed to extend to a maximum of 28 hours. Substantial variation in questing activity between individuals was observed. Models fitted to the distribution of durations of bouts of questing activity provide insights into the questing ecology of I. ricinus. Results suggest that questing duration may not be solely dependent on the state of hydration of the tick. A function fitted to the frequency distribution of the proportions of active life that individuals spend on questing, provides an empirically-based model that can be used to generate a stochastic expression of variation of questing activity in individuals in a questing population.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Estrada-Peňa, A. and Sanchez-Acedo, C. (1988) Studies on activity of Rhipicephalus (Digeneus) bursa (Acarina: Ixodidae), under natural conditions. Acarologia, 29, 267-274.
Estrada-Peňa, A., Dehesa, V. and Sanchez, C. (1990) The seasonal dynamics of Haemaphysalis punctata, Rhipicephalus bursa and Dermacentor marginatus (Acari: Ixodidae) on sheep of Pais Vasco (Spain). Acarologia, 31, 17-24.
Gigon, F. (1985) Biologie d'Ixodes ricinus L. sur le Plateau Suisse. — Une contribution à l'écologie de ce vecteur. PhD Thesis, University of Neuchatel.
Gray, J.S. (1982) The development and questing activity of Ixodes ricinus (L.)(Acari: Ixodidae) under field conditions in Ireland. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 72, 263-270.
Harlan, H.J. and Foster, W.A. (1990) Micrometeorologic factors affecting field host-seeking activity of adult Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, 27, 471-479.
Lane, R.S., Anderson, J.R., Yaninek, J.S. and Burgdorfer, W. (1985) Diurnal host seeking of adult pacific coast ticks, Dermacentor occidentalis (Acari: Ixodidae), in relation to vegetational type, meteorological factors, and rickettsial infection rates in California, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology, 22, 558-571.
Lees, A.D. (1946) The water balance in Ixodes ricinus L. and certain other species of ticks. Parasitology, 37, 1-20.
Lees, A.D. (1948) The sensory physiology of the sheep tick, Ixodes ricinus L. Journal of Experimental Biology, 25, 145-207.
Lees, A.D. (1964) The effect of ageing and locomotor activity on the water transport mechanism of ticks. Acarologica, 6(supplement), 315-323.
Lees, A.D. and Milne, A. (1951) The seasonal and diurnal activities of individual sheep ticks (Ixodes ricinus L.). Parasitology, 41,189-208.
MacLeod, J. (1935) Ixodes ricinus in relation to its physical environment. II. Factors governing survival and activity. Parasitology, 27, 123-144.
Milne, A. (1945) The ecology of the sheep tick Ixodes ricinus L. The seasonal activity in Britain with particular reference to northern England. Parasitology, 36, 142-152.
Rosenberg, N.J., Blaine, L.B. and Shashi, B.V. (1983) Microclimate: The Biological Environment. Wiley & Sons, New York.
Wagner, T.L., Wu, H., Sharpe, P.J.H. and Coulson, R.N. (1984) Modelling distributions of insect development time: a literature review and application of the Weibull function. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 77, 475-487.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Van Es, R., Gettinby, G. & Hillerton, J. Models of temporal variation in questing activity in individuals of Ixodes recinus (Acari: Ixodidae). Exp Appl Acarol 23, 977–986 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006331331642
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006331331642