Management strategies to minimize the use of synthetic chemical acaricides in the control of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1888) in an area highly favourable for its development in Argentina

• Published in: Medical and veterinary entomology Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 264 - 278
• Main Authors: Nava, S., Rossner, M. V., Torrents, J., Morel, N., Martinez, N. C., Mangold, A. J., Guglielmone, A. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2020; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Acaricides; Animals; Argentina; Boophilus; Cattle; control; Female; Larva; Pasture; Rhipicephalus; Spelling; Summer; synthetic acaricides; Tick Control - methods; ticks; Winter; Argentina; synthetic acaricides; control; Cattle; ticks
• ISSN: 0269-283X; 1365-2915
• DOI: 10.1111/mve.12432

The aim of this work was to test the efficacy of winter–spring control strategies against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1888) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in an area highly favourable for its development in Argentina. Control schemes using three or four annual applications of synthetic acaricides were evaluated. Furthermore, the dynamics of the non‐parasitic phases of R. microplus were analysed to provide a framework for the application of pasture spelling as a tool for tick control. The treatment schemes provided appropriate levels of efficacy against R. microplus and also prevented the occurrence of the major peak in abundance of this tick in autumn. A significant overall effect against R. microplus can be achieved when the control strategies tested in this study are applied within the area most ecologically favourable for this tick in Argentina. Analysis of the dynamics of the non‐parasitic phase of R. microplus indicates that the spelling period required to achieve a significant reduction of larvae in pastures fluctuates between 12 and 17 weeks if spelling is initiated in spring or early summer, but between 20 and 28 weeks if spelling is started in late summer, autumn or winter. Control strategies using three or four annual applications of synthetic acaricides to control Rhipicephalus microplus were evaluated in an area highly favourable for its development in Argentina. The treatment schemes provided appropriate levels of efficacy against R. microplus and also prevented the occurrence of the major peak in abundance of this tick in autumn. The spelling period to significantly reduce larvae abundance in pastures is 12–17 weeks in spring and early summer and 20–28 weeks from late summer to winter.