Patterns of activity in host-seeking adult Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) and host-produced kairomones

Adult blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say, were confined to clay islands each surmounted with a vertical glass rod, and tick activities were videotaped continuously for 48 h. Some rods were treated basally or apically with substances rubbed from pelage associated with the tarsal or interdigital glands of white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann). Except for the activity immediately following their release, tick activity on both days was greatest during the period from 1700 to 2300 hours, which coincided with the onset of scotophase. Ticks were most active when rods had interdigital gland substances applied to their basal 2 cm, whereas they were least active when confined with rods treated with tarsal gland substances on their apical 2 cm. Overall, ticks spent more time on the apical 2 cm of the glass rods during the scotophase than during the photophase. The highest level of apical arrestment among treated and untreated rods occurred when the rod tips were treated with tarsal gland substances, with female ticks on the apical 2 cm of the rods 70-100% of every 3-h period beginning with the period from 2000 to 2300 hours on day 1. In contrast, when tarsal gland substances were applied to the basal 2 cm of the rods, the ticks spent <40% of every period on day 2 on the rod tips.