Abstract
Eastern Fence Lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) in middle Tennessee are commonly parasitized by chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae), but little is known about the ecological significance of this host-parasite system. Thus, I sampled S. undulatus and their habitats monthly to determine the seasonal pattern in chigger abundance and infestation intensity. Chigger abundance was low (mean = 1.8 chiggers) in the spring (April and May), eightfold higher throughout the summer, and declined sixfold in the fall (September and October). In general, infestation intensities on S. undulatus (males, females, and juveniles) followed the same pattern except that mean infestation intensity of males declined during the summer in spite of persistently high chigger abundance. The results of this study suggest that seasonal changes in chigger abundance are a major factor influencing infestation intensities on S. undulatus.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
