The Influence of Southwestern Virginia Environmental Conditions on the Potential Ability of <i>Haemaphysalis longicornis, Amblyomma americanum,</i> and <i>Amblyomma maculatum</i> to Overwinter in the Region
Ticks are susceptible to environmental conditions and, to ensure survival during winter conditions, they adopt a wide variety of physiological and behavioral adaptations including utilization of a suitable niche with insulation (e.g., leaf coverage). To investigate the potential overwintering surviv...
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| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | article |
| Lenguaje: | EN |
| Publicado: |
MDPI AG
2021
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doaj.org/article/21d597a267694bc48180feaf363388b2 |
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| Sumario: | Ticks are susceptible to environmental conditions and, to ensure survival during winter conditions, they adopt a wide variety of physiological and behavioral adaptations including utilization of a suitable niche with insulation (e.g., leaf coverage). To investigate the potential overwintering survival of three tick populations emerging within Appalachian Virginia (<i>Haemaphysalis longicornis, Amblyomma americanum</i>, and <i>Amblyomma maculatum</i>), both a laboratory experiment assessing super-cooling points and a two-factor (elevation and insulation coverage) field experiment assessing overwintering survivability were conducted across a natural southwestern Virginian winter (2020–2021). <i>Dermacentor variabilis</i> adults were included in this study as an example of a well-established species in this region known to overwinter in these conditions. Our study indicated that <i>A. americanum</i> and <i>H. longicornis</i> wintering tolerance is based on life stage rather than external factors such as insulation (e.g., leaf litter) and elevation. <i>Amblyomma maculatum</i> was more likely to survive without insulation. The ability to withstand the extreme temperatures of new regions is a key factor determining the survivability of novel tick species and is useful in assessing the invasion potential of arthropod vectors. |
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