Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Natural attraction of livestock ticks by the leaves of a shrub

Attirance Naturelle Des Tiques Du Betail Par Les Feuilles D'un Arbuste

Atraccion Natural De Garrapatas Del Ganado Hacia Las Hojas De Una Planta

  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

During examination of leaves of different plants on Rusinga Island, Kenya, ticks were commonly found on the leaves of a plant identified asAcalypha fruticosa Forsk. var.villosa Hutch (Euphorbiaceae). Larvae ofRhipicephalus appendiculatus were the predominant ticks encountered, found quiescent on the undersurface of the leaves. Laboratory investigations showed that significant numbers of ticks were attracted by odours from this plant. It was concluded that the leaves ofA. fruticosa are attractive to this tick and have potential for use as a trap to control ticks.

Résumé

Au cours de l'examen des feuilles de différentes plantes sur l'île Rusinga, au Kenya, des tiques ont été trouvées généralement sur les feuilles d'un arbuste identifié comme étantAcalypha fructicosa Forsk. var.villosa Hutch (Euphorbiaceae). Les larves deRhipicephalus appendiculatus prédominaient. Elles reposaient sur l'envers des feuilles. Des recherches en laboratoire ont montré que des nombres significatifs de tiques étaient attirés par les odeurs de cette plante. On en conclut que les feuilles d'A. fructicosa attirent cette tique et peuvent être utilisées comme piège dans la lutte contre cette espèce.

Resumen

Durante el examen de las hojas de diferentes plantas en la isla Rusinga, en Kenia, se encontraron garrapatas comúnmente en las hojas de una planta identificada comoAcalypha fruticosa Forsk. var.villosa Hutch (Euphorbiaceae). La garrapata predominante fue la larva delRhipicepalus appendiculatus. Ellas estaban quietas en la parte inferior de las hojas. Investigaciones de laboratorio mostraron que números significativos de garrapatas eran atraídas por los olores de la planta.

Se concluyó, que las hojas deA. fruticosa atraen la garrapata arriba mencionada y que la planta podría ser utilizada como trampa para el control de las misma.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Browning, T. O. (1976). The aggregation of questing ticks,Rhipicephalus pulchellus, on grass stems, with observations onR. appendiculatus.Physiological Entomology,1, 107–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiera, J. W. (1985). The distribution and climbing behaviour ofRhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann on grass stems.Insect Science and its Application,6, 213–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dipeolu, O. O., Mongi, A. O., Punyua, D. K., Latif, A. A., Amoo, A. O. &Odhiambo, T. R. (1992). Current concepts and approach to control of livestock ticks in Africa.Discovery and Innovation,4, 35–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mount, G. A. (1981). Control of the lone star tick in Oklahoma parks through vegetative management.Journal of Economic Entomology,74, 173–175.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Punyua, D. K., Latif, A. A., Nokoe, S. &Capstick, P. B. (1991). Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) infestations on zebu cattle in western Kenya: Seasonal dynamics of four species of ticks on traditionally managed cattle.Journal of Medical Entomology,28, 630–636.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sonenshine, D. E., Atwood, E. L. &Lamb, J. T. (1966). The ecology of ticks transmitting Rocky Mountain spotted fever in a study area in Virginia.Annals of Entomological Society of America,59, 1234–1262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherst, R. W., Jones, R. J. &Schnitzerling, H. J. (1982). Tropical legumes of the genusStylosanthes immobilize and kill cattle ticks.Nature,295, 320–321.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, K. C., Roa, E. J. &Romero, N. T. (1978). Anti-tick grasses as the basis for developing practical tropical tick control packages.Tropical Animal Health and Production,10, 179–182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, P. R. (1967). The distribution ofDermacentor ticks in Canada in relation to bioclimatic zones.Canadian Journal of Zoology,45, 517–537.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, P. R. (1977). Effect of herbicidal killing of shrubs on abundance of adultDermacentor andersoni (Acarina: Ixodidae) in British Columbia.Journal of Medical Entomology,13, 713–718.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, R. H., Garris, G. I. &Beaver, J. S. (1984). Potential ofStylosanthes plants as a component in an integrated pest management approach to tick control.Preventive Veterinary Medicine,2, 579–588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya

    S. M. Hassan, O. O. Dipeolu & M. M. Malonza

Authors
  1. S. M. Hassan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. O. Dipeolu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. M. Malonza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hassan, S.M., Dipeolu, O.O. & Malonza, M.M. Natural attraction of livestock ticks by the leaves of a shrub. Trop Anim Health Prod 26, 87–91 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02239905

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02239905

Keywords

Search

Navigation