"Colony" - what is it, definition of the term
The term denotes a structured aggregation of conspecific organisms that share a common habitat, coordinate activities such as feeding, reproduction, or defense, and sustain continuity across generations; in arthropods like ticks, bugs, lice, and fleas, such groupings may develop on hosts or within nests, enabling individuals to exploit resources collectively while maintaining genetic exchange.
Detailed information
The term refers to a localized aggregation of ectoparasitic arthropods that share a common host or habitat. Such aggregations develop when individuals reproduce, seek mates, or exploit a concentrated food source, resulting in a dense population that can persist for several generations.
Ticks form clusters on mammals, birds, or reptiles. Females attach to a host, engorge, and lay thousands of eggs in the surrounding environment. The eggs hatch into larvae that seek new hosts, maintaining the aggregation. Control strategies focus on regular host inspection, removal of engorged individuals, and environmental treatment with acaricides.
Bugs, particularly those that feed on plant sap, create settlements on foliage. Females deposit egg masses on leaf surfaces; nymphs emerge and remain near the oviposition site, forming a visible concentration. Integrated pest management employs crop rotation, resistant plant varieties, and targeted insecticide applications to reduce these populations.
Lice establish permanent groups on the bodies of mammals and birds. Adult females lay eggs (nits) attached to hair shafts or feathers. The life cycle proceeds entirely on the host, creating a stable settlement that can survive without external input. Effective measures include thorough grooming, use of pediculicides, and laundering of infested textiles.
Fleas generate dense populations in animal nests, burrows, or human dwellings. After blood meals, females drop off to lay eggs in the surrounding substrate. Eggs hatch into larvae that feed on organic debris before pupating, allowing the aggregation to endure through dormant stages. Management involves regular cleaning of bedding, application of insect growth regulators, and treatment of host animals with appropriate ectoparasiticides.
Key characteristics common to these aggregations: