TICK CONTROL IN STATE PARKS

Abstract:
A three-stage study was initiated to evaluate ways to use precision-targeting of insecticides for lone star tick (LST) control in Mississippi State parks. The first stage involved an evaluation of the residual effects of three commercially available pyrethroids against the LST, with the purpose of choosing a candidate product for use in parks. Live ticks were placed in the grass on three dates over a 15-day period inside artificially constructed tick enclosures which had been previously sprayed with the pyrethroids. Two of the insecticides, Permanone7 10 percent EC and Suspend7 SC, provided 100% tick control for the entire 15-day period. The third product, Saga7 WP, provided 100% control for the first seven days. The second phase of the project, conducted at a wildlife management area, carefully documented LST clustering in relation to shade and soil moisture. Results of this study showed clear patterns of LST clustering, especially of nymphs, in association with shade and soil moisture. Ticks were only collected in areas with > 23% soil moisture. Only three ticks out of 221 were collected in 10% or less shade. The average percentage shade for areas where all adult LSTs were caught was 63% in lane one and 43% in lane two. The third phase constituted an attempt to identify spots of LST clustering along nature trails in a Mississippi State park and to spot-treat those areas with Suspend7 SC. Only a minimal amount of insecticide was applied with a backpack sprayer in sites of clustering. For comparison, appropriate control areas (where no treatments were applied) along the same nature trails were also sampled for ticks. Spot treatment provided tick control of 72.7 B 100% for two months (with two exceptions). For the entire first month after spraying there was an average 88.1% control.