Establishment of the foreign parthenogenetic tick Amblyomma rotundatum (Acari: Ixodidae) in Florida

The parthenogenetic tick Amblyomma rotundatum, a Central and South American species, has become established in southern Florida. The date of introduction is unknown, but it is suspected to be either during the 1930s, when 1 of its natural hosts, the giant or marine toad, Bufo marinus, was introduced...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of parasitology 1993-10, Vol.79 (5), p.786-790
Main Authors: Oliver, J.H. Jr, Hayes, M.P, Keirans, J.E, Lavender, D.R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acari
AMBLYOMMA
Amblyomma rotundatum
Biological and medical sciences
Bufo marinus
ESTABLECIMIENTO DE PLANTAS
ETABLISSEMENT DE LA PLANTE
FLORIDA
FLORIDE
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Ixodidae
Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control
PLANT ESTABLISHMENT
Research Notes
Vectors. Intermediate hosts
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Summary:The parthenogenetic tick Amblyomma rotundatum, a Central and South American species, has become established in southern Florida. The date of introduction is unknown, but it is suspected to be either during the 1930s, when 1 of its natural hosts, the giant or marine toad, Bufo marinus, was introduced to southern Florida as a potential biological control of pest beetles in sugar cane fields, or between 1955 and 1964 when specimens of B. marinus were accidentally or deliberately released in the greater Miami area. Several museum specimens of this toad collected in the Miami area 25 April 1979 had nymphal and adult A. rotundatum attached. Subsequent examination of living giant toads collected at another Miami area site from 1983 through 1985 revealed larval, nymphal, and adult A. rotundatum and confirmed colonization of this tick. Under laboratory conditions, another neotropical amphibian and reptile tick, Amblyomma dissimile, is capable of transmitting Cowdria ruminantium, the causative agent of heartwater, a disease present in the Caribbean area. Therefore, we suggest that A. rotundatum should also be tested for vectorial competence.
ISSN:0022-3395
1937-2345
DOI:10.2307/3283624