Influence of climatic factors on the number of ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) during periods of high and low abundance (south-east of Western Siberia)

The data on the species composition of ixodid ticks in the territory of the forest park of the Novosibirsk Scientific Center were obtained. Ticks were collected using the standard method on a flag (5 ten-day periods from May to June) in 2010–2023. Two species of ixodid ticks were found in the collections: Ixodes рavlovskyi Pom., 1946 and Ixodes рersulcatus P Schl., 1930. The data on the seasonal activity of ixodid tick imagoes were obtained. The long-term average abundance of I. рavlovskyi was 21.3 specimens/flag-km. During the period of low abundance, the average value was 12.8 ± 1.7 specimens/flag-km, while during the period of high abundance, this indicator was 32.6 ± 3.2 specimens/flag-km. The long-term average seasonal abundance of I. рersulcatus was 3.0 specimens/flag-km. During the period of low abundance, the average seasonal abundance was 1.4 specimens/flag-km, and during the period of high abundance, 4.7 specimens/flag-km. We also studied the influence of such climatic factors as the sum of active temperatures, the sum of precipitation, and the hydrothermal coefficient during the period of imago activity (May–June) on the number of ticks during periods of low and high abundance. It was found that the limiting factors for the abundance of I. рavlovskyi are the humidity level, and for the abundance of I. рersulcatus, in addition to humidity, the sum of active temperatures is also the limiting factor.

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