Mate-seeking by Female Amblyomma maculatum (Acarina: Ixodidae) on a Bovine

Abstract

LITTLE information is available concerning the attraction between sexes of ticks, and the literature contains no reports of sex pheromones in these arachnids. In some tick species the males are known to seek the attached females^1–4, though male bont ticks, Amblyomma hebraeum Koch, in Africa probably attract females⁵. When, however, I investigated the mating behaviour of the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum Koch, on bovines restrained inside environmentally controlled stalls (24±3° C; 70±7% relative humidity; 12 h photophase: 12 h scotophase per 24 h photocycle), I found that the females were attracted to the males.