Application of a fungal pathogen for the management of ticks in a county park, Suffolk County, NY

Abstract

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are of common concern in New York and especially on Long Island, where Lyme disease and an invasive new species of tick, the Lone Star tick, are endemic. Pesticide alternatives are being sought for the management of ticks in sensitive ecological areas, recreational areas, homes, and municipalities, where limits or bans on pesticide use are in place. Biological control using fungi for tick management has shown promising results in previous studies. This experiment was designed to test a commercial formulation of a fungal insecticide/acaricide for use in the management of ticks in the landscape. Results suggest that the emulsifiable concentrate formulation tested can be used to reduce tick numbers in the landscape, for up to three weeks post-treatment.