Oviposition sites of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) (Acarina: Ixodidae) in Stylosanthes and grass pastures

Choice of oviposition sites by the cattle tick Boophilus microplus was studied in pastures with various ratios of buffelgrass tussocks and the tropical legume Stylosanthes scabra cvs Fitzroy and Seca. The legumes trap host‐seeking larvae of the tick. More ticks oviposited adjacent to grass plants th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAustralian journal of entomology Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 101 - 105
Main Authors Wilson, L.J, Sutherst, R.W
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.1990
Subjects
biological control
Boophilus microplus
exudates
oviposition
pastures
pest control
Stylosanthes scabra
tick control
Queensland
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Summary:Choice of oviposition sites by the cattle tick Boophilus microplus was studied in pastures with various ratios of buffelgrass tussocks and the tropical legume Stylosanthes scabra cvs Fitzroy and Seca. The legumes trap host‐seeking larvae of the tick. More ticks oviposited adjacent to grass plants than Stylosanthes plants. The larger diameter of grass tussocks compared to the main stems of the legumes greatly reduced the probability of the ticks settling next to a legume. Similarly, wandering larvae were more likely to encounter and ascend a grass tussock than a legume plant. The results indicate that high legume to grass ratios are needed to ensure a useful level of tick control by tick‐trapping pasture legumes.
Bibliography:Division of Plant Industry, CSIRO, P.O. Box 59, Narrabri, N.S.W. 2390.
ISSN:0004-9050
1326-6756
1440-6055
DOI:10.1111/j.1440-6055.1990.tb00326.x