What bait attracts ticks? - briefly
Ticks are drawn to carbon dioxide, body heat, and skin‑derived chemicals such as lactic acid and ammonia. These cues constitute the primary attractants used in tick‑bait traps.
What bait attracts ticks? - in detail
Ticks locate potential hosts by detecting a combination of physical and chemical signals. The most effective attractants are:
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂) – emitted by breathing animals; serves as the primary long‑range cue.
- Body heat – infrared radiation indicates a warm‑blooded organism.
- Moisture and humidity – ticks prefer humid microenvironments found on skin.
- Skin volatiles – substances such as lactic acid, ammonia, urea, and certain fatty acids released in sweat.
- Pheromones – species‑specific chemicals that can draw conspecifics, especially during mating periods.
Synthetic formulations replicate these cues. Commercial traps often combine a CO₂ source (dry ice or compressed gas) with heat pads and a blend of volatile compounds derived from animal sweat. Laboratory studies show that a mixture containing lactic acid (0.5 %–1 % solution), ammonia (0.1 %–0.2 % solution), and a small amount of isobutyric acid significantly increases tick capture rates compared with CO₂ alone.
Life‑stage preferences affect bait selection. Larvae and nymphs respond more strongly to CO₂ and heat, while adult females exhibit heightened sensitivity to skin volatiles associated with blood meals. Consequently, traps targeting different stages may adjust the proportion of each attractant.
Field deployment guidelines:
- Position traps in shaded, humid areas where host activity is frequent.
- Maintain a steady CO₂ output of 0.5 L/min to simulate a medium‑sized mammal.
- Keep the heat source at 30–35 °C to match typical skin temperature.
- Refresh volatile mixtures every 24 hours to prevent degradation.
- Replace CO₂ cartridges and heat pads weekly to ensure consistent performance.
Understanding the synergistic effect of these attractants enables the design of efficient tick‑capture systems for surveillance and control programs.