SUPPRESSION OF IXODES-SCAPULARIS (ACARI, IXODIDAE) NYMPHS IN A LARGE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY

To determine the feasibility of suppressing Ixodes scapularis Say popu lations in a large, hyperendemic residential community, several rates of granular carbaryl were applied by ground and air to the shrub layer and wooded buffers of a forested residential community during the pea k activity period of nymphs. Granular carbaryl significantly reduced t he abundance of I. scapularis nymphs on Peromyscus leucopus Raphinesqu e. Control nymphal ticks ranged between 70.0 and 90.3%. The use of pro perly timed acaricide applications to I. scapularis habitat within res idential communities can provide an effective means of reducing exposu re to I. scapularis nymphs, which are chiefly responsible for transmit ting Borrelia burgdorferi to humans.