Hamilton J G, Sonenshine D E
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Keele, Staffordshire, U.K.
Med Vet Entomol. 1995 Jul;9(3):219-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.1995.tb00125.x.
This study was undertaken to determine if body size of female ticks was an important factor in eliciting the mating behaviour of Dermacentor variabilis and D. andersoni males. Dummy female ticks (DFTs) representing varying sizes of feeding females were prepared from plastic beads. Size of DFT was shown to be important in determining both the time spent by males in contact with DFTs and the extent of male mating response released. Dermacentor variabilis males preferred the smaller-sized DFT, whereas D.andersoni males preferred the larger sizes. Males of both species were able to discriminate between size of DFT only when mounting sex pheromone (MSP) was present. Size of the DFT was more important than the composition of the MSP extract in determining the time males spent in contact with DFTs. Males of both species were sensitive to variations in concentration of extract, and spent 2-6 times longer in contact with DFTs when the concentration was optimal than when it was not. No significant difference in the male's mating response was seen in response to variation in concentration of heterospecific extract. Male mating response, i.e. the behaviour of the male as it progresses through the initial contact, climbing onto the dorsal surface and turning onto the venter, was shown not to be dependent upon how long the male spent in contact with the DFT. Male D. andersoni had a much lower mating response to DFTs than D. variabilis males, suggesting that some further stimulus may be required.
本研究旨在确定雌性蜱虫的体型是否是引发变异革蜱和安氏革蜱雄性交配行为的重要因素。用塑料珠制作了代表不同大小饱血雌蜱的假雌蜱（DFT）。结果表明，DFT的大小对于确定雄性与DFT接触的时间以及引发雄性交配反应的程度都很重要。变异革蜱雄性更喜欢较小尺寸的DFT，而安氏革蜱雄性则更喜欢较大尺寸的。只有当存在交配性信息素（MSP）时，这两个物种的雄性才能区分DFT的大小。在确定雄性与DFT接触的时间方面，DFT的大小比MSP提取物的成分更重要。这两个物种的雄性对提取物浓度的变化都很敏感，当浓度最佳时，与DFT接触的时间比浓度不佳时要长2至6倍。对于异种提取物浓度的变化，雄性的交配反应没有显著差异。雄性的交配反应，即雄性在最初接触、爬上背面并翻身到腹面过程中的行为，并不取决于雄性与DFT接触的时间长短。安氏革蜱雄性对DFT的交配反应远低于变异革蜱雄性，这表明可能还需要一些其他刺激因素。
