Seasonal change in habitat use by Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae): plant, litter, and soil.

ABSTRACT

Habitat use of Hemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Acari Ixodidae) was observed from February 1998 to January 2000 in Boso Peninsula, central Japan. The number of ticks collected from plants (by hand) and from litter and soil (by the vinyl method) was compared seasonally. Laboratory experiments showed that the vinyl method effectively collected 97% of adults, 98% of nymphs, and 95% of larvae from soil and litter samples. Field studies showed that habitat use of all stages varied during the species' active period. Larvae were seen on plants from August to October, and the number of larvae on plants peaked in September. Nymphs were on plants from March to May in 1998 or July in 1999 and again in August and September in 1998 and 1999. The number of nymphs collected from the litter was large in October and March. Nymphs shifted from litter and soil to plants both in spring and autumn. Adults were on plants from March to July, although they were collected from litter and soil from September to July. Adults shifted from litter and soil to plants during their activity period. It was shown that all stages were uncommon (low percentages) on plants early in the active period and very abundant (high percentages) late in the active period.