DERMAL GLAND SECRETIONS OF TROPICAL BONT TICK, AMBLYOMMA-VARIEGATUM (ACARINA, IXODIDAE) - BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITY ON PREDATORS AND PATHOGENS

When they are mechanically disturbed, all instars of the tropical bont tick Amblyomma variegatum exude droplets of a liquid on the dorsal, l ateral, and ventral cuticle. These spread out and quickly evaporate. I n this study, the possible role of these secretions was investigated i n relation to predators and pathogens. In laboratory bioassays, it was demonstrated that the secretions from engorged larvae, nymphs, and fe males have an antibiotic activity against the bacteria species Bacillu s thuringiensis and Serratia marcescens, combined with a repellent eff ect on a potential predator, the fire-ant Solenopsis geminata.