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Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology

Poster: MUVE, Vector Biology

D3340: Factors influencing modeled Ixodes scapularis phenology

Tuesday, November 12, 2024
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC
Poster Display
The phenology of immature Ixodes scapularis, particularly nymphs, is important in understanding the risk of pathogen transmission.  It is influenced by many factors, including diapause induction and termination, rate of host-finding, mortality, and the interactions between such factors and the environment.  Diapause triggers are thought to be regulated by photoperiod, while other life history traits are more sensitive to temperature and humidity. In much of its range, this tick is considered to have a 2-year life cycle, but this may be variable and range from 1-3 years depending on environment.  Microbial influences may interact with environmental factors to influence life history traits and pathogen transmission, and it is critical to integrate these factors to understand the risk posed at different times and by different populations.  To model these interactions, we developed a model of immature phenology including diapause.  Currently this model includes photoperiod thresholds for larval and nymphal diapause induction and termination, and temperature dependent mortality.  Preliminary results indicate that the relative timing of larval hatch (regulated by temperature-dependent development) and larval diapause induction (photoperiod trigger) influences larval phenology.  Larvae remaining in diapause rather than exiting in the spring, combined with conditions that increase nymphal diapause rather than host-finding, may allow some 3-year life cycles.  Further exploration of factors influencing diapause and life cycles will be discussed, along with further development of the model to include microbial influences