Distribution, Seasonal Abundance, and Hosts of the Gulf Coast Tick1 in Oklahoma3

Abstract

Amblyomma maculatum Koch was found in 18 counties of northeastern and south-central Oklahoma during 1972. Extreme annoyance to cattle was observed in the northeastern part of the State, where 80 adult ticks per animal were observed. Primary hosts of nymphal and larval Gulf Coast ticks were bobwhite quail, grasshopper sparrow, meadow lark, cotton rat, and deer mouse. Cattle were the primary hosts of the adult stage. Adult ticks occurred in greatest numbers on cattle, sweeps, and CO2-baited traps between late May and early July. Larvae were found on hosts in our study areas from mid-June to early September, and they reached peak numbers during early July; a reduced peak in larval numbers occurred in early August. Nymphs were found on their primary hosts between early July and early October, and numbers peaked during early August; a second reduced peak occurred during early September. Adult ticks were most abundant in persimmon-habitat types during late spring and summer 1972. Habitats with intermediate numbers of adults included buckbrush blackberry, lowland prairie, and sumac; the blackjack oak woods, and ravine and upland prairie habitats, had low numbers. Comparisons of 4 different breeds of cattle showed that Herefords had 5 times as many adult ticks per head as Brahman crosses. Appreciable differences between Angus and Hereford or Angus-Brahman crosses were not noted. Brahman calves had about one half as many ticks per animal as did the Hereford or Angus calves.