Cassandra Olds, extension entomologist
The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is common tick found in Kansas which takes two years to complete development from egg to reproductive adult. Much of this time is spent off the animal host, sheltered in leaf litter particularly in shrubby areas. These areas provide a humid microcosm fundamental for tick survival. Prescribed or controlled burns are carried out to improve a number of rangeland conditions such as weed suppression and improve forage quality. Early season tick counts measured over a period of three months (April- June) at the K-State Beef Stocker Unit have shown that burning significantly impacts tick populations with the season of burn also potentially contributing. Sampling bi-weekly in three unburned pastures, a total of 826 ticks were collected. In three pastures burned in the spring, summer or fall (nine pastures in total) 5, 55 and 103 ticks were collected respectively. Ticks collected were primarily Amblyomma Americanum adults and nymphs which had overwintered from the previous year. These results suggest that burning may be a useful tool for tick management particularly if carried out in the spring (April) before tick emergence after overwintering. Variations between the three pastures for each burn treatment group did occur indicating that ticks do not travel far once detached from the host and incomplete burns, especially in shrubby areas will lead to local pockets with higher tick densities.
