ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FOREIGN PARTHENOGENETIC TICK AMBLYOMMA-ROTUNDATUM (ACARI, IXODIDAE) IN FLORIDA

The parthenogenetic tick Amblyomma rotundatum, a Central and South Ame rican species, has become established in southern Florida. The date of introduction is unknown, but it is suspected to be either during the 1930s, when 1 of its natural hosts, the giant or marine toad, Bufo mar inus, was introduced to southern Florida as a potential biological con trol of pest beetles in sugar cane fields, or between 1955 and 1964 wh en specimens of B. marinus were accidentally or deliberately released in the greater Miami area. Several museum specimens of this toad colle cted in the Miami area 25 April 1979 had nymphal and adult A. rotundat um attached. Subsequent examination of living giant toads collected at another Miami area site from 1983 through 1985 revealed larval, nymph al, and adult A. rotundatum and confirmed colonization of this tick. U nder laboratory conditions, another neotropical amphibian and reptile tick, Amblyomma dissimile, is capable of transmitting Cowdria ruminant ium, the causative agent of heartwater, a disease present in the Carib bean area. Therefore, we suggest that A. rotundatum should also be tes ted for vectorial competence.