Solar tick trap with a pheromone lure - A stand-in approach for off-host control of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), the brown dog tick, transmits several important haemo-protozoan and rickettsial pathogens to dogs. Effective control of these ticks is entirely by the use of acaricidal preparations both on and off the host. Indiscriminate use of acaricides can cause environmental pollution and toxicity to humans as well as development of acaricidal resistance in ticks. As an alternative control strategy, a novel, eco-friendly and economical solar tick trap, which attracts ticks using pheromones and kills them by electrocution, was fabricated for use in kennels to control different stages of ticks. All stages of ticks were found to be lured to sex pheromone (SP), assembly pheromone (AP) and a combination of SP + AP impregnated vapour patches and electrocuted. There was a highly significant (p < 0.01) difference in the level of attraction between engorged and questing stages of ticks to the pheromones in the trap. AP lured a higher number of ticks, both engorged and questing, in comparison to other pheromones. The solar tick trap bearing vapour patch impregnated with AP was considered most suitable for use in integrated pest management (IPM) of ticks in heavily infested kennels. The solar trap remained effective for a month after which, replacement of pheromone impregnated vapour patch was necessary for continued and effective attraction of the ticks. This solar tick trap device, which uses pheromone without any acaricide, could prove to be an ideal green alternative for use in IPM of ticks in kennels.