Use of squalene and phenolic pheromone derivatives on nonfed stages of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (Acari: Ixodidae), with observations for attraction potential

Abstract

Positive behavioral responses to 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,6-dichlorophenol, methyl salicylate , and squalene individually are reported for Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille), domestic pest and vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Phenolics acted as attractants by recruiting 60–67% of ticks and squalene acted as an arrestant by causing up to 77% of ticks to cluster on treated surfaces in short-range petridish bioassays. Compound concentrations were consistently most effective at 0.01 M and 0.05M without a dose-response. Other known tick attractants 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and o-nitrophenol, however, did not elicit a response. Of interest is that squalene elicited a different set of behavioral responses (arrestment instead of attraction) and more heightened activity than did the phenolics.

Key words :

• Acari
• Ixodidae
• pheromone
• trap bait
• 2,6-dichlorophenol
• squalene
• Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille)
• USA