Population dynamics of the free-living stages of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae) on pastures of Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
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Abstract
A study on the population behavior of Amblyomma cajennense larvae, nymphs and adult
free-living stages was carried out in Pedro Leopoldo County, Minas Gerais State, Brazil,
from July 1995 to July 1997. Larvae were collected from pasture from April to October
using the technique of drag sampling with flannelette. The maximal larval population
was observed during autumn (May) representing, respectively, 48 and 82% of the total
numbers recovered during the first and the second years of the experiment. Nymphs
and adults were captured throughout the year by the use of traps with carbon dioxide
as chemical attractant. The highest population of nymphs occurred during the winter
(July), representing 39.5% of the total collected specimens. Adults had the highest
population density on pasture during spring and summer, i.e., from August to May,
with peaks in January and February, representing 46 and 38.3% of the total collected
specimens during the first and the second year of study, respectively.