Post doctoral associate Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick, New Jersey
The Asian longhorned tick (ALT), Haemaphysalis longicornis, is an invasive tick species that is rapidly expanding throughout the US and is now present in 15 different states. The ALT in North America is parthenogenetic and is found in diverse habitats and climate types. In this study, we described the seasonal dynamic of ALT in the ecotone and tested its survivorship under different temperature and humidity conditions in the laboratory. Weekly surveillance was conducted from March to December 2020 at six different sites in NJ, where other anthropophilic tick species coexist with ALT. The results showed that ALT was the most abundant tick species (84%) in the ecotone. This result highlights the increasing risk for pets and humans that this tick species represents in areas where it is established since it is a known vector for human and animal diseases. In the laboratory, we tested the survivorship of larvae, nymphs, and adults at different temperatures (T) and relative humidities (rH). The saturation deficit (SD) was calculated to analyze the combined effect of T and rH in tick mortality. The results showed that ALT survives desiccation at a wide range of temperatures and rH for an extended time, making it highly adaptable. In addition, the nymphs and adults have similar survivorship rates at different conditions, suggesting that the spiracles are involved in water balance.
