The '4-poster' passive topical treatment device to apply acaricide for controlling ticks (Acari : Ixodidae) feeding on white-tailed deer

A '4-poster' device that attracts white-tailed deer to a bait source, and a s they feed, allows a self-application of a pesticide to the head, ears, an d neck to control ticks was designed, constructed. and tested. The device c onsists of a central bin containing bait to attract deer and two feeding an d application stations. These stations each have one bait port and two vert ical pesticide-impregnated applicator rollers. This design allows unrestric ted vertical retraction of the head to minimize injury to the deer or damag e to the posts supporting the pesticide application rollers. Observations u sing deer demonstrated ready acceptance and repeated use by both antlered a nd antlerless deer. Results of an initial trial indicate that control value s for lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.). exceeded 92-97% on deer t hat used the device regularly.