期刊名称：Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine
印刷版ISSN：1232-1966
电子版ISSN：1898-2263
出版年度：2017
卷号：24
期号：2
页码：271-275
DOI：10.5604/12321966.1230736
出版社：Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin
摘要：Introduction and objective. Expansion into new areas and the great epidemiological significance of the D. reticulatustick in Europe prompts investigations of its ethology. Therefore, the locomotor activity of D. reticulatus adult stages in anoptimal habitat during the spring and autumn activity periods was analysed.Materials and method. Marked D. reticulatus adults were placed at the central point of each experimental plot. At regulartime intervals, specimens attached to the cloth used in the flagging method were collected, and the distance covered bythe ticks was measured. In each collection round, the temperature and humidity level in the habitat was also measured.Results. Within 7 weeks, adult D. reticulatus ticks can cover an average distance of 60.71±44 cm. The locomotor activityof adult stages is greater during the spring than the autumn activity period. Questing, females cover a greater distance(66.35±100 cm) than male ticks (54.85±45 cm). Adult stages are characterised by greater aggressiveness 24 hours after beingreleased, i.e. 30% of females and 19% of males attempt to attach to host skin. The locomotor activity in adult ticks dependson the humidity of the habitat (Z=-1.198; p=0.050). The temperature does not affect tick walking.Conclusions. Given the low rates of horizontal locomotion of adult D. reticulatus ticks, the prevalence of the species in natureis determined by the presence of their hosts and humidity conditions ensuring their further development and survival. Thedependence of D. reticulatus locomotor activity and aggressiveness on the humidity level implies an increased risk of hostattacks in locations and periods that offer favourable humidity conditions for this species.
