Infestation Level, Attachment Site and Distribution Pattern of the Lizard Tick Ixodes asanumai (Acarina : Ixodidae) in Aoga-shima, Izu Islands

Abstract

Life cycle, infestation level and attachment site of the tick Ixodes asanumai, parasitic on the lizard Eumeces okadae, were studied in Aoga-shima, Izu Islands, Japan. The following were clarified; (1) the occurrence of female ticks was restricted in May, (2) the tick infestation level increased with the lizard size, (3) male lizards received the most intensive infestation by female ticks, (4) main attachment sites of females, larvae, and nymphs were arm of forelegs, foot of both fore and hindlegs, and trunk, respectively, (5) the distribution pattern of this tick was the negative binomial distribution in all stages. These results were same as those obtained in Miyake-jima belonging to the same islands.