How are ticks caught? - briefly
Ticks are captured by dragging a white cloth or flag over vegetation (flagging/dragging) and by using CO₂‑baited traps that lure them from the ground. After capture, specimens are removed with tweezers and preserved for laboratory analysis.
How are ticks caught? - in detail
Tick collection relies on several proven techniques that target different life stages and habitats. Researchers typically employ flagging or dragging, wherein a white cloth attached to a pole is moved across vegetation. Ticks questing for hosts attach to the fabric, allowing easy removal. This method works best in low-lying grass and shrub layers during peak activity periods.
CO₂-baited traps simulate host respiration. A dry ice source releases carbon dioxide, attracting ticks that climb a sticky surface or a funnel leading to a collection container. Traps can be left in the field for several hours, capturing both nymphs and adults.
Live-baited traps use restrained animals, such as rodents or quail, placed in cages with a surrounding barrier. Ticks transfer from the host to a collection surface placed on the cage floor. This approach yields specimens that have fed, useful for pathogen studies.
Vacuum sampling involves a portable suction device fitted with a mesh filter. Operators sweep the device over vegetation, drawing ticks into the collection chamber. The technique captures elusive species that do not readily quest on cloth.
Host examination remains essential. Captured mammals, birds, or reptiles are inspected systematically, and attached ticks are removed with fine-tipped forceps. This method provides data on host‑specific tick populations and disease transmission dynamics.
Environmental sampling includes leaf litter extraction using Berlese funnels or Tullgren devices. Heat and light drive ticks downward into a collecting vial, recovering specimens that reside in the soil or detritus layer.
Each method requires proper preservation. Live ticks are placed in vials with 70–95 % ethanol for morphological analysis, while specimens intended for molecular work are stored at –20 °C or in RNAlater. Accurate labeling of collection date, location, and habitat type is critical for downstream research.
Combining multiple techniques increases capture efficiency across species, developmental stages, and ecological niches, providing comprehensive data for surveillance and control programs.