| Title: | Squalene: a naturally abundant mammalian skin secretion and long distance tick-attractant (Acari: Ixodidae) |
| Author(s): | Yoder JA; Stevens BW; Crouch KC; |
| Address: | "Department of Biology, Illinois College, Jacksonville 62650, USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0022-2585 (Print) 0022-2585 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Squalene is a naturally occurring lipid on mammalian skin and is an attractant to the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.). In this study, we compared squalene to the standard tick-attractants, benzaldehyde, isobutyric acid, methyl salicylate, nonanoic acid, and o-nitrophenol identified as active ingredients of tick aggregation-attachment pheromones and determined its effectiveness in field and laboratory settings at varying distances. Squalene was detected from 1/4 m greater than the standard tick attractants, attracted a greater percentage of ticks (75 compared with 0-43%) and featured a rapid response time (< 30 min). Thus, squalene contributes more to the tick's ability to locate hosts at greater distances than aggregation-attachment pheromones. These results have important implications for improving tick monitoring and control programs by adding squalene as a supplement to existing attractant baits" |
| Keywords: | Animals Biological Assay Feeding Behavior Female Male Mammals *Pheromones/metabolism Skin/*metabolism *Squalene Ticks/*physiology; |
| Notes: | "MedlineYoder, J A Stevens, B W Crouch, K C eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 1999/09/01 J Med Entomol. 1999 Jul; 36(4):526-9. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/36.4.526" |
