Abstract
Extracts of femaleRhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann andR. pulchellus Neumann, vectors or potential vectors of East Coast fever, have yielded phenol andp-cresol. The same phenols have been found in five additional species of hard ticks, three of which also contained 2,6-dichlorophenol. Salicylaldehyde appeared as another phenolic component in four of these species. On the basis of this information- and of the rather limited literature available, it appears that ixodid ticks may generally utilize simple phenols as attractants. Behavioral observations suggest a role of the phenols in the meeting of the sexes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arthur, D.R. 1962. Ticks and disease, Pergamon Press, London, 445 pp.
Berger, R.S. 1972. 2,6-Dichlorophenol, sex pheromone of the lone star tick.Science 177:704–705.
Berger, R.S., Dukes, J.C., andChow, Y.S. 1971. Demonstration of a sex pheromone in three species of hard ticks.J. Med. Entomol. 8:84–86.
Butenandt, A., Beckmann, R., Stamm, D., andHecker, E. 1959. Ueber den Sexual-Lockstoff des SeidenspinnersBombyx mari. Reindarstellung und Konstitution. Z.Naturforsch. 14b:283–284.
Chow, Y.S., Lu, F.M., Peng, C.T., andCheng, P.C. 1972. Isolation of lipids and sex pheromone from hard ticks.Bull. Inst. Zool., Acad. Sin. 11:1–8.
Gladney, W.J., andDawkins, C.C. 1973. Experimental interspecific mating ofAmblyomma maculatum andA. americanum.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 66:1903–1097.
MacConnell, J.G., andSilverstein, R.M. 1973. Recent results in insect pheromone chemistry.Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 12:644–654.
Oliver, J.H. 1974. Symposium on reproduction of arthropods of medical and veterinary importance. IV. Reproduction in ticks.J. Med. Entomol. 11:26–43.
Oliver, J.H., Wilkinson, P.R., andKohls, G.M. 1972. Observations on hybridization of three species of North AmericanDermacentor ticks.J. Parasitol. 58:380–384.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wood, W.F., Leahy, S.M.G., Galun, R. et al. Phenols as pheromones of ixodid ticks: A general phenomenon?. J Chem Ecol 1, 501–509 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988590
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988590