Characterization of carbon dioxide release rates for a novel tick trap (Acarina)

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

4:12 PM – 4:24 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 221 C, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

CD

Christopher Downs (he/him/his)

Field Biologist
BanfieldBio, Inc.
Woodinville, Washington

Co-Author(s)

AB

Alyssa S. Branca

Research Biologist
BanfieldBio, Inc.
Woodinville, Washington
JJ

Jillian Joiner (she/her/hers)

Research Entomologist
BanfieldBio, Inc.
Kenmore, Washington
DM

Daniel Marshall

Graduate Research Assistant
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington
CW

Christopher Wheeler

Chris Wheeler Consulting LLC
Las Angeles, California
DR

Devin Rihtarshich

BanfieldBio, Inc.
Woodinville, Washington
John H. Borden

Principal Consultant
JHB Consulting
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Michael Banfield

President
BanfieldBio, Inc.
Woodinville, Washington

Field experiments were conducted with a novel tick trap in which ticks climb up a perimeter ramp and become stuck on a downward-facing sticky surface. A carbon dioxide (CO₂) source, such as dry ice, is placed on the top of the trap to attract the ticks. Experiments were conducted in central Wisconsin and north-central Oklahoma with the aim to characterize the relationship between the changing release rate of CO₂ on tick catch over time for two important tick species (Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum). When using dry ice, a large amount of CO₂ is released in an initial burst and then the release rate of CO₂ decreases over time as the sublimating mass gets smaller. Both container type and dry ice mass can affect the release rate, though larger masses are not directly proportional to longer durations of CO₂ release. We will use these parameters to guide development of an improved lure to increase the efficacy and usability of the novel tick trap in terms of catch rate, ease of deployment and overall cost of use.