Rationale for classical biological control of cattle fever ticks and proposed methods for field collection of natural enemies

Authors: Goolsby, John; DENNIS, MAYS - Texas A&M University; SCHUSTER, GRETA - Texas A&M University; KASHEFI, JAVID - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); SMITH, LINCOLN - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); AMALIN, DIVINA - De La Salle University; M, CRUZ-FLORES - De La Salle University; RACELIS, ALEX - University Of Texas; Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto

Submitted to: Subtropical Agriculture and Environments
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2016
Publication Date: 3/14/2016
Citation: Goolsby, J., Dennis, M., Schuster, G., Amalin, D., M, C., Racelis, A., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2016. Rationale for classical biological control of cattle fever ticks and proposed methods for field collection of natural enemies. Subtropical Agriculture and Environments. 66:7-15.

Interpretive Summary: Cattle fever ticks are vectors of the microbes causing bovine babesiosis, which can be lethal to cattle and causes significant production losses. These ticks are not native to the U.S. and have been eradicated. Cattle fever ticks are endemic to Mexico and continue to re-invade the U.S. along the Texas - Mexico border. Resistance to acaricides, wildlife hosts such as nilgai antelope and whitetailed deer, along with exotic vegetation along the international border that favors survival of cattle fever ticks are challenging the continued success of the cattle fever tick eradication program. Biological control using specialized parasitic insects and/or nematodes from the native ranges of cattle fever ticks could reduce invasion pressure from Mexico and on wildlife hosts that can not be treated with acaricides. This publication describes, 1) the rationale for biological control and 2) methods for searching and collecting potential biological control agents are presented.

Technical Abstract: Classical biological control using specialist parasitoids, predators and/or nematodes from the native ranges of cattle fever ticks Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus annulatus could complement existing control strategies for this livestock pest in the transboundary region between Mexico and Texas. Methods for field collection of cattle fever tick natural enemies are discussed, including exposure of infested cattle to collect insects that are parasitic on the nymphs and adults, time lapse photography to observe predators of questing larvae, and soil assays to detect entomopathogenic nematodes.