Microhabitat determines uneven distribution of Amblyomma parvum but not of Amblyomma sculptum ticks within forest patches in the Brazilian Pantanal

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology Vol. 79; no. 3-4; pp. 405 - 410
• Main Authors: do Nascimento Ramos, Vanessa, da Silva Rodrigues, Vinicius, Piovezan, Ubiratan, Szabó, Matias Pablo Juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-12-2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adults; Agglomerates; Amblyomma parvum; Amblyomma sculptum; Animal Distribution; Animal Ecology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brazil; Bromeliaceae; Carbon dioxide; Clumps; Desiccants; Desiccation; Differential distribution; Dry season; Entomology; Forests; Ixodidae; Larvae; Life Sciences; Microclimate; Microenvironments; Microhabitats; Nymph; Nymphs; Rainy season; Ticks; Wild animals; Brazil; Tick ecology; Host-seeking; Bromeliads; Ixodidae
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-019-00445-6

Environmental distribution of the two most abundant ticks in forest areas in the Brazilian Pantanal was evaluated by CO
2
traps methodology in the wet season (peak of adult ticks) of 2012 and 2013. Adults of
Amblyomma parvum
were concentrated inside agglomerates of
Bromelia balansae
, in the border of forest patches. Adults of
Amblyomma sculptum
occurred in similar numbers both in bromeliad clumps and in bromeliad-free areas. Differential distribution of ticks in this habitat could be associated to the frequent use of bromeliad clumps by wild animals (potential hosts) and to the microclimate conditions inside this vegetation in the Pantanal. It is important to verify whether larvae and nymphs of
A. parvum
have a similar pattern of distribution in the same areas, during the dry season. These stages are more susceptible to desiccation and their principal hosts, non-volant small mammals, also use these bromeliad areas.