Circadian basis of assembly pheromone response inArgas (Persicargas) persicus

Abstract

A very close negative correlation has been demonstrated between the assembly pheromone response and locomotor activity inArgas (Persicargas) persicus (Oken). The daily rhythm of the activity of ticks in constant darkness showed alternation of diurnal assembly and nocturnal locomotor activity in regular circadian oscillations, but the intensity of the locomotor activity gradually decreased. The tendency for the period of the circadian oscillation to be longer and for the active phase of the rhythm to shift to the daytime hours occurred in ticks of the Azerbaijan population and unengorged ticks of the Czechoslovak laboratory population. This was not so in the engorged males from Czechoslovak population. The periodicity in the alternation of active and passive phases and the number of active ticks grew progressively in relation to increasing temperature. The presence of females increased the locomotor activity of males.