Integrated Use of 4-Poster Passive Topical Treatment Devices for Deer, Targeted Acaricide Applications, and Maxforce TMS Bait Boxes to Rapidly Suppress Populations of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in a Residential Landscape

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology 2007-09, Vol.44 (5), p.830-839
• Main Authors: Schulze, Terry L., Jordan, Robert A., Schulze, Christopher J., Healy, Sean P., Jahn, Margaret B., Piesman, Joseph
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 4-Poster; acaricides; Administration, Topical; Animals; Arachnida; baiting density; baits; barrier application; Biological and medical sciences; deer; Deer - parasitology; developmental stages; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; habitat-targeted tick control; host-targeted tick control; hosts; Insecticides - administration & dosage; integrated control; Invertebrates; Ixodes; Ixodes scapularis; Larva; Mammals - parasitology; Maxforce; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; Nymph; Odocoileus virginianus; Population Density; residential areas; small mammals; tick burden; tick control; Tick Control - instrumentation; Tick Control - methods; tick infestations; Tick Infestations - prevention & control; Tick Infestations - veterinary; Tick Management System; Time Factors; topical application; VECTOR CONTROL, PEST MANAGEMENT, RESISTANCE, REPELLENTS; Vectors. Intermediate hosts
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585%282007%2944%5B830%3AIUOPPT%5D2.0.CO%3B2

In fall 2003, we began testing an integrated control strategy to rapidly achieve and sustain reduced numbers of Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) in a residential area. We combined two host-targeted technologies in conjunction with single, barrier acaricide applications to sequentially attack each postembryonic life stage of the tick. Granular deltamethrin applied to the lawn–forest interface of participant properties resulted in 100% control of host-seeking nymphs. Nymphal and larval tick burdens on targeted small mammal hosts at treated properties were reduced by 92.7 and 95.4%, respectively, after the first year (2004) of combined interventions. Over the same period, populations of host-seeking nymphs, larvae, and adults were reduced by 58.5, 24.8, and 77.8%, respectively. After interventions in 2005, tick burdens on small mammals were maintained at similar levels, whereas control of host-seeking nymphs, larvae, and adults increased to 94.3, 90.6, and 87.3%, respectively. Prospects for widespread use of these technologies to protect the public’s health are discussed.