How does formic acid affect a tick? - briefly
«Formic acid» penetrates the tick’s cuticle, disrupts neuronal transmission, and causes swift paralysis followed by death. Higher concentrations accelerate immobilisation and increase mortality.
How does formic acid affect a tick? - in detail
Formic acid, a simple carboxylic acid naturally produced by many ants and some plants, exerts several physiological effects on ticks when applied in controlled concentrations.
The compound penetrates the arthropod’s cuticle, disrupting the lipid‑protein matrix that maintains barrier integrity. This leads to rapid loss of hemolymph and dehydration, ultimately causing mortality.
Key mechanisms include:
- Neurotoxic action: Formic acid interferes with voltage‑gated sodium channels, resulting in uncontrolled neuronal firing and paralysis.
- pH imbalance: Acidic conditions lower the internal pH of hemolymph, impairing enzyme function and metabolic pathways.
- Protein denaturation: Exposure causes structural alteration of cuticular proteins, weakening the exoskeleton and facilitating further chemical ingress.
Dose‑response relationships demonstrate that concentrations between 5 % and 10 % (v/v) achieve >90 % tick kill rates within minutes, while sublethal doses may induce prolonged feeding inhibition and reduced reproductive capacity.
Repeated applications can produce cumulative stress, decreasing egg viability and larval emergence. However, excessive concentrations (>15 %) risk damaging host skin and should be avoided in veterinary contexts.
Formic acid’s rapid action, low environmental persistence, and ease of formulation make it a viable acaricidal agent for integrated pest‑management programs targeting hard and soft tick species.