Population dynamics of immature Amblyomma maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae) and other ectoparasites on meadowlarks and northern bobwhite quail resident to the coastal prairie of Texas

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 483 - 488
• Main Authors: Teel, P.D. (Texas AandM University, College Station, TX.), Hopkins, S.W, Donahue, W.A, Strey, O.F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lanham, MD Entomological Society of America 01-07-1998
• Subjects: AMBLYOMMA; AMBLYOMMA CAJENNENSE; AMBLYOMMA INORNATUM; AMBLYOMMA MACULATUM; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bird Diseases - parasitology; Birds - parasitology; CAILLE; CODORNIZ; COLINUS VIRGINIANUS; Demecology; DINAMICA DE POBLACIONES; DYNAMIQUE DES POPULATIONS; ENFERMEDADES PARASITARIAS; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HAEMAPHYSALIS; HAEMAPHYSALIS CHORDEILUS; HAEMAPHYSALIS LEPORISPALUSTRIS; HOSTS; HOTE; HUESPEDES; MALLOPHAGA; METASTIGMATA; NEW HOST RECORDS; PARASITE; PARASITES; PARASITOS; PARASITOSE; PARASITOSES; POPULATION DYNAMICS; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Quail - parasitology; QUAILS; SEASONAL VARIATION; STERNELLA; Sturnella; TEXAS; TICK INFESTATIONS; Tick Infestations - parasitology; Tick Infestations - veterinary; Ticks; VARIACION ESTACIONAL; VARIATION SAISONNIERE; United States; North America; Texas; America; Parasitiformes; Grassland; Mallophaga; Temperature; Insecta; Environmental factor; Colinus virginianus; Phthiraptera; Arachnida; Vertebrata; Acari; Ixodida; Seasonal variation; Arthropoda; Host range; Population dynamics; Ectoparasite; Atmospheric precipitation; Aves; Invertebrata; Ixodidae; Amblyomma maculatum; Population density; Geographical variation
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1093/jmedent/35.4.483

A survey of ectoparasites from 219 meadowlarks conducted during 2 consecutive fall-winter periods in a coastal prairie found immature Amblyomma maculatum Koch to be the most abundant parasite. Peak larval infestations occurred in December with 80-100% of collected birds infested and with a monthly mean of up to 34 larvae per bird. Peak nymphal infestations occurred in February or March with 95-100% of birds infested and with a monthly mean of up to 11 nymphs per bird. Seasonal dynamics of these stages offered possible insight into the persistence of A. maculatum in an area long infested with the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Four other species of ticks also were collected but in substantially lower numbers; Amblyomma cajennense (F.), Amblyomma inornatum (Banks), Haemaphysalis chordeilus (Packard), and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Packard). This appears to be the 1st host record of A. cajennense from meadowlarks. A collection of 17 northern bobwhite quail indicated that most of these birds were infested with A. maculatum but at a lower level than meadowlarks. The collections of 2 species of Mallophaga from meadowlarks and 4 species from the northern bobwhite quail are discussed