Effect of ants Formica rufa and formic acid on Ixodes ticks of Altai fauna

Abstract

Effect of ants Formica rufa was studied on the fed and unfed stages of the ticks Ixodes persulcatus and Dermacentor nuttalli in vivo. The unfed and the fed tick stages of D. nuttalli had a higher survival than the unfed and the fed tick stages of I. persulcatus. 85 % formic acid causes death of ixodes ticks within 5 minutes, 60 % formic acid – within 10 minutes. Ants F. rufa prey on ixodes ticks and can reduce their populations. Ants F. rufa can be used as a biological control for ixodes ticks in small territories.

Keywords

• formica rufa
• formic acid
• ixodes ticks