pathogens Article Quantitative Parameters of the Body Composition Influencing Host Seeking Behavior of Ixodes ricinus Adults Joanna Kulisz 1,* , Katarzyna Bartosik 1 , Zbigniew Zaj ˛ac 1 , Aneta Wo´zniak 1 and Szymon Kolasa 2 1 Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland;
[email protected] (K.B.);
[email protected] (Z.Z.);
[email protected] (A.W.) 2 Polesie National Park, Lubelska 3a St., 22-234 Urszulin, Poland;
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[email protected] Abstract: Ixodes ricinus, a hematophagous arthropod species with great medical importance in the northern hemisphere, is characterized by an ability to survive prolonged periods of starvation, a wide host spectrum, and high vector competence. The aim of the present study was to determine the quantitative parameters of questing I. ricinus ticks collected in eastern Poland during the spring peak of their activity. The study consisted in the determination of quantitative parameters characterizing I. ricinus females and males, i.e., fresh body mass, reduced body mass, lipid-free body mass, water mass, and lipid mass and calculation of the lipid index. A statistically significant difference was observed between the mean values of the lipid index in females collected during the first and last ten days of May, which indicates the progressive utilization of reserve materials in the activity period. Higher activity of I. ricinus female ticks was observed during the last ten days of May despite the Citation: Kulisz, J.; Bartosik, K.; less favorable weather conditions, indicating their strong determination in host-seeking behaviors Zaj ˛ac,Z.; Wo´zniak,A.; Kolasa, S.