Ticks of the Genus Ixodes in Utah
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Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series Volume 1 Number 4 Article 1 1-1960 Ticks of the genus Ixodes in Utah Dorald M. Allred D Elden Beck Leland D. White Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byuscib Part of the Anatomy Commons, Botany Commons, Physiology Commons, and the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Allred, Dorald M.; Beck, D Elden; and White, Leland D. (1960) "Ticks of the genus Ixodes in Utah," Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series: Vol. 1 : No. 4 , Article 1. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byuscib/vol1/iss4/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. 6-/vA--llec>vc.3 5 BIOLOGICAL SERIES — VOLUME I, NUMBER IV January, J 960 TICKS OF THE GENUS IXODES IN UTAH by DORALD M. ALLRED, D ELDEN BECK, LELAND D. WHITE Brigham Young University ^ Science Bulletin TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 Larval taxonomy and species biology 7 Ixodes angustus 7 Ixodes kingi 8 Ixodes marmotae 12 Ixodes maris 13 Ixodes ochotonae 15 Ixodes pacificus 16 Ixodes sculptus 18 Ixodes spinipalpis 20 Ixodes texanus 22 Ixodes sp 23 Discussion 24 Larval intraspecific variations 24 Lai-val interspecific variations .— 30 Key to the larvae 33 Host-tick relationships 40 References cited 41 Acknowledgments 42 Addendum to collection records 42 LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1 - Length comparison of certain setal measurements 26 Table 2 - Length comparison of certain setal measurements 27 Table 3 - Width and length comparisons of the hypostome 28 Table 4 - Width and length comparisons of the palps 29 Table 5 - Width and length comparisons of the scutimi 30 Table 6 - Comparison of numbers of setae on the larvae of nine species of Ixodes 31 Table 7 - Comparison of structures of the larvae of nine species of Ixodes 32 Table 8 - Existence of palpal and coxal spurs on the lai'vae of nine species of Ixodes 33 SC 4-60 RE l19aS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page Figure 1 - Representative Ixodes larva, dorsal view 2 Figure 2 - Representative Ixodes lai-va, gnathosoma 2 Figure 3 - Representative /zoc?^^ larva, ventral view 2 Figure 4 - /. angustus, ventral view ..- 7 Figure 5 - /. angustus, gnathosoma 7 Figure 6-1. angustus, dorsal view 7 Figure 7 - /. kingi, ventral view 9 Figure 8-1. kingi, gnathosoma _ 9 Figure 9-1. kingi, dorsal view _ 9 Figure 10 - /. marmotae, ventral view 12 Figure 11 - /. marmotae, gnathosoma 12 Figure 12 - /. marmotae, dorsal view .— \... 12 - Figure 13 /. maris, ventral view . 14 Figure 14 - /. maris, gnathosoma 14 Figure 15 - /. muris, dorsal view 14 Figure 16 - /. ochotonae, ventral view 15 Figure 17 - /. ochotonae, gnathosoma - 15 Figure 18 - /. ochotonae, dorsal view 15 Figure 19 - /. pacificus, ventral view 17 Figure 20 - /. pacificus, gnathosoma 17 Figure 21 - /. pacificus, dorsal view 17 Figure 22 - /. sculptus, ventral view 18 Figure 23 - /. sculptus, gnathosoma 18 Figure 24 - /. sculptus, dorsal view 19 Figure 25 - /. spinipalpis, ventral view 20 Figure 26 - /. spinipalpis, gnathosoma 21 Figure 27 - /. spinipalpis, dorsal view 21 Figure 28 - /. tcxanus, ventral view 22 Figure 29 - /. texanus, gnathosoma 22 Figure 30 - /. texanus, dorsal view 23 Figures 31-53 - Key characters of the larvae 34-36 Figure 54 - Distribution of /. angustus, I. marmotae and /. muris in Utah 37 Figure 55 - Distribution of /. kingi, I. ochotonae and /. pacificus in Utah 38 Figure 56 - Distribution of /. sculptus, I. spinipalpis and /. texanus in Utah 39 TICKS OF THE GENUS IXODES IN UTAH by Dorald M. Allred, D Elden Beck, Leland D. White INTRODUCTION (1912) gave a description for the larva of kingi, but the description was brief and of little It is known that ticks of some species of taxonomic value. Clifford (1958) has given a the genus Ixodes are vectors of organisms path- comprehensive discussion of, and constructed a ogenic to man and his domestic animals in key to, Ixodes larvae of the southeastern United certain parts of the world and in North Ameri- States. Of these, only two species, texanus and ca (Philip 1939; Belding 1952; Anastos 1957). muris, are known to occur in Utah Edmunds The vector potentiality of most known species (1951 ) listed collection records for eight species, is far from complete, and the same can be said one of which is diversifossus, a record of ques- for information on host-parasite relationships, tionable validity. Beck (1955) listed additional life history, and other aspects of their ecology. notes on host relationships for texanus, spinipal- Much work has been done concerning the pis and pacificus, and Kohls (1952) reported the taxonomy of the adults, and to a limited ex- presence of muris from muskrats in Utah. tent the n;ymphal stages have been studied. There have been few other papers published With most species, however, it is difficult to on Utah ticks which deal with their taxonomy specifically identify the larval stage because and biology. The study of the genus Ixodes by the morphological and anatomical characteris- Cooley and Kohls (1945) is at present the most tics have not been studied sufficiently to make comprehensive publication dealing with these taxonomic separation possible. investigations. Several thousand specimens of ticks have The purpose of our study was twofold: (1) been collected in Utah by staff members and To make a morphological and anatomical an- students of the Brigham Young University alysis to determine which characteristics may Zoology Department during the past 10 years. be used for taxonomic separation of the larvae Many hundreds of these are of the genus Ixodes, of species known to occur in Utah, and (2) to representing all stages in their life history. determine the biology of each species collected It was felt that if the larval stages could be in Utah. The data on the biology of the several accurately identified, additional information re- species were derived from field collection rec- corded in the field records for distribution, host ords supplemented by similar information taken relationships, seasonal occurrence and popula- from the literature. tion index for all stages would: Larvae of five of the species used for mor- 1. Contribute to a better understanding phological and anatomical analysis were reared of taxonomy, life history, and season- from identified females in the laboratory. Lar- al occurrence. vae from the other four species were identified 2. Supplement information to better in- on the basis of their presence with identifiable terpret vector-pathogen associations nymphs and adults. when such conditions are determined. All larval ticks were cleared, mounted on 3. Assist in the interpretation of the microslides, and examined with phase micro- phenomenon of maintenance of res- scopy, and drawings were made to scale using ervoirs of infection for pathogenic a net reticule The terminology and chaetotaxy organisms in nature. follow Clifford (1958) and Cooley and Kohls The study of the collections of ticks of the (1945) except for the terms posterolateral ex- genus Ixodes made by Brigham Young Uni- tension, median auricula and lateral auricula versity and some ticks obtained by loan form which are original (Figures 1, 2, and 3). The the basis of this publication. Primary emphasis measurements of the following structures are has been given to larval taxonomy and sec- in microns and were taken as follows: ondarily to biological factors of ecological im- portance for the nine species of ticks of the Scutum: The length was determined as genus Ixodes known to occur in Utah. These the distance from the flattened anterior bor- are angustus, kingi, marmotae, maris, ochoto- der to the posterior border. The width was nae, pacificus, sculptus, spinipalpis and texanus. measured at the area of the greatest v\adth. The taxonomy and biology of the larval Palpus: The length was measured from ticks of the above species have received little the base of article two to the distal end of attention from previous workers. Nuttall the palpus. The width was measured at et al. (1911) constructed a key to the larvae the junction of articles two and three. The of eleven species of Ixodes of which only angus- width of article two was measured at its tus is known to occur in Utah. Hooker et al. base. CH; Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 ) Biological Series Vol I. No. 4. January. 1960 Hypostome: The length was determined Crotaphytus wislizeni wislizeni 3: M from the tip to the curvature at the base. Long-nosed Leopard Lizard The width was taken at the widest point. Phrynosoma cornutum 1 : M Seta: The length did not include the Texas Horned Lizard basal collar. Sceloperus graciosus graciosus 46; M In order to determine the biology and host Great Basin Sagebrush Lizard relationships of ixodid ticks and other ectopar- Sceloperus undulatus consobrinus 2: M asites in Utah, the Department of Zoology and Southern Prairie Lizard Entomology of Brigham Young University in- Sceloperus undulatus virgatus 1 : M itiated a systematic survey to determine rela- Striped Plateau Lizard tionships of parasitic arthropods and their verte- Sceloperus sp. 1 : MT brate hosts. This survey, initially called Project Spiny Lizard 10, was begun in April of 1949 by D- Elden Uta stansburiana stansburiana 1 : M Beck, Dorald M. Allred, Vernon J. Tipton and Northern Side-blotched Lizard Dale Rupert with Beck as the project director. Family Scincidae Subsequent to the beginning date other faculty Eurneces skiltonianus 1 : M members and students have participated in the Western Skink project. Although primary concern has been Order Serpentes given to the rodents, collections have been made from other mammals, birds, reptiles, and nests Family Colubridae of tliese animals as they were available.