Title
Statistical measures of association between Amblyomma sabanerae Stoll (Acari : Ixodida : Ixodidae) and the furrowed wood turtle, Rhinoclemmys areolata (Dumeril and Bibron) (Testudines : Emydidae), in northern Belize
Author(s)
Robbins, RG; Platt, SG; Rainwater, TR; Weisman, W
Published
2001
Publisher
Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Abstract
Between April 1997 and June 1998, 159 tick collections, comprising 411 specimens, were made from 261 adults and juveniles of the furrowed wood turtle, Rhinoclemmys areolata (Dumeril and Bibron), on a tract of pine forest and savanna in northern Belize. All ticks were determined to be Amblyomma sabanerae Stoll, a common parasite of testudines in the lowland tropics of Central America. Male ticks were collected from more turtles (94) than were females (48) or immatures (82). However, despite the likelihood that male turtles have greater home ranges, significantly more ticks parasitized female turtles than males. It is thought that overdispersion of both ticks and turtles declines in the equable climate of the Neotropics, in which case female turtles, being larger than males, would be expected to acquire more ticks. Collections of immature A. sabanerae were more frequently made on fleshy areas of R. areolata, but the mean number of nymphs and larvae collected from anterior areas was not significantly different from that for posterior areas.
Keywords
GEOCHELONE-PARDALIS; PHEROMONES; MARMOREUM; TORTOISE; IMMUNITY; TICKS; HOST
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PUB11483